Pedestrians Often at Fault in Crashes, Baltimore County Officials Say

In response to what Baltimore County officials say is a recent increase in the number of serious crashes involving pedestrians, they are putting together a campaign to raise public awareness about the issue.

Annually, Baltimore County police and fire personnel handle 420 pedestrian-vehicle collisions, according to a statement from Baltimore County officials.

"...contrary to public perception, the pedestrian is at fault in about 80 percent of these incidents," the statement said.

Increasingly in Baltimore County, the crashes are deadly. Baltimore County led the region in pedestrian-involved fatalities, the Baltimore Metropolitan Council reported last year, with an average of 18 fatalities between 2007 and 2011.

There had been 17 fatal pedestrian-involved crashes by Aug. 20, 2013, according to Baltimore County police.

During a press conference Thursday in Randallstown, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, Police Chief Jim Johnson and Fire Chief John Hohman will discuss the issue of pedestrian crashes in the county, provide the latest data on crashes and announce a public awareness campaign around the problem.

Representatives from the police and fire departments, public works, the Baltimore Metropolitan Council and Maryland Highway Safety Office will be in attendance at the conference, which will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the Randallstown fire station.