Teens Hit By Car Sparks Call For Lower Speed Limit

ASPEN HILL, MD — Montgomery County lawmakers are calling on the Maryland Department of Transportation and Gov. Larry Hogan to lower speed limits on an Aspen Hill road after a car hit four students waiting for a bus last week. The speed limit of 45 mph on a suburban section of Georgia Avenue/Maryland Route 97 is "much too high," lawmakers said in a letter to the state.

The Montgomery County Council said in the letter that the area where the teens were hit is "hostile" to pedestrians and cyclists. "We want immediate action to make this section of upper Georgia Avenue safe for all," it said, according to WTOP.

All nine members of the county council signed the letter, according to Bethesda Magazine.

The council members noted they want the safety measures to spread across the state. "Furthermore, we expect the State Highway Administration (SHA) to be much more proactive on other state highways to reduce the chance of further severe accidents,” the letter said.

See the Maryland Department of Transportation's statement.

Three of the students hit were taken to a hospital with non life-threatening injuries. One student sustained life-threatening injuries and is still in the hospital, according to WTOP.

There have been 11 pedestrian deaths in Montgomery County so far this year, the letter said. This number is up from eight in 2016 and 11 for all of 2017, WTOP reports.

Maryland officials say about 3,000 Marylanders are hit by cars every year, about 400 of which are in Montgomery County.

See more: Car Plows Into Teens In Aspen Hill: Police

The county council is planning to discuss pedestrian safety with state officials on Nov. 13.

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