Gaithersburg Adds New Locations to Safe Speed Enforcement Program

[Howard Hartman]

City of Gaithersburg Press Release
For Immediate Release          October 1, 2009

Gaithersburg Adds New Locations to
Safe Speed Enforcement Program

See the Montgomery County Fixed-Pole Speed Camera Map

Gaithersburg, MD. Two new locations have been approved for enforcement efforts under the City of Gaithersburg’s Safe Speed program. The newest locations are on Northbound South Frederick Avenue prior to Education Boulevard and Southbound South Frederick Avenue prior to South Summit Avenue. The posted speed limits in these locations are 30 miles per hour for southbound South Frederick and 35 miles per hour for Northbound South Frederick. The cameras will become operational on October 1, 2009. A grace period during which only warnings will be issued to motorists who exceed the posted speed limit by 12 miles per hour or more will begin on October 1 and end on October 16, 2009.

Jurisdictions within Montgomery County were granted the authority to operate the cameras in 2006. Conducted in conjunction with the City of Rockville, the Town of Chevy Chase and Montgomery County, Gaithersburg’s Safe Speed program authorizes the use of the cameras in residential and school zones with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less.

The Gaithersburg Police Department conducted traffic surveys to determine locations most in need of speed reduction efforts. Existing enforcement areas include Diamond Drive, Marquis Drive, North Summit Avenue, Quince Orchard Boulevard, Quince Orchard Road, Watkins Mill Road, and West Deer Park Road.

The goal of the Safe Speed program is to reduce speeding on residential streets and streets near schools in an effort to prevent injuries and fatalities among pedestrians and motorists. Since the program became operational in July of 2007, Gaithersburg Police have observed a reduction in the number of citations issued.

Detailed information about the program, including locations of photo radar enforcement efforts, instructions for paying fines and a list of frequently asked questions, is available on the City’s website at www.gaithersburgmd.gov/police. For additional information contact the Gaithersburg Police Department at 301-258-6400.