Fifteen pedestrians have died on Montgomery County roads this year, already more than in all of 2025.

Montgomery County police launched a fall traffic enforcement campaign on Thursday, Nov. 5, at Veterans Plaza in downtown Silver Spring, as first reported by Montgomery Community Media. Officers will target drivers who speed, drive distracted or don't stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.

Capt. Dave Reed of the Montgomery County Police Department's Traffic Division announced the effort. Reed said the push "is not about tickets" or "filling a quota."

"This is about us changing driver behavior," he said.

The campaign comes as evenings grow darker after daylight saving time ended Nov. 1. Montgomery Community Media reported that 76% of pedestrian deaths nationally in 2024 occurred in the dark, citing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A deadly year

The county has recorded 39 fatal crashes and 42 deaths this year, County Executive Marc Elrich said at his Nov. 4 media briefing. By the same date in 2025, the county had 35 fatal crashes. Two bicyclists are among this year's dead.

Chris Conklin, director of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, said a bicyclist was killed by a Ride On bus in late October.

Officials blamed speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving for the deaths. They also warned pedestrians against crossing outside crosswalks, since darker evenings make them harder for drivers to see.

Families speak out

Mindy Badin, a member of Montgomery County Families for Safe Streets, spoke at the event. Her son Brett was 32 when he was killed nearly seven years ago. He had gotten off a bus at a mid-block stop on Route 355 in Rockville and was crossing the road to meet friends.

"He never made it to the dinner with his friends," Badin said.

She said drivers still tailgate her on the way to his grave. On one trip along Warfield Road in Gaithersburg, a driver yelled obscenities at her as she pulled over.

County Council President Natali Fani-González said her teenage daughter walks home from high school around 6:30 p.m. and carries reflectors and a flashlight.

County spending and road changes

The county's fiscal 2027 budget includes more than $170 million for Vision Zero, the county's strategy to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. The money covers sidewalks, protected crossings, traffic calming and street lighting.

Conklin said crashes dropped 38% on corridors with frequent injuries and deaths after the county focused engineering, enforcement and outreach there. But he said crash rates are rising across the region.

The county has also lowered speed limits on about 250 neighborhood streets. Elrich pointed to flex poles at intersections, which force drivers to slow down when turning.

Reed urged pedestrians to put their phones away, use crosswalks and wear bright clothing at night. He also suggested carrying a flashlight.

Residents can report broken streetlights and other road hazards by calling 311.