This summer is going to be unlike any other. With the cloud of the pandemic lifting, traffic volumes are slowly returning to normal levels. Maine’s vaccination rates are among the highest in the nation, and our corner of the country is as attractive as it’s ever been.

Safety is still going to be a significant concern for both residents and travelers as we all navigate this transition period toward our new normal. There is a lot of attention right now, justifiably, on keeping ourselves safe from the coronavirus, but this is also a good time to remember how important it is to remain vigilant about safety on Maine’s roads. Recent tragic news stories remind us of the reality of the danger that can present itself in an instant for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

Our main message to drivers is to obey speed limits, wear your seatbelt, and pay attention behind the wheel. Don’t drive impaired or use handheld devices. Be especially careful when passing through work zones. These small, simple steps will go a long way toward preventing serious injuries and fatalities on Maine’s highways. Because of the size and power of their vehicles, drivers carry a special responsibility for ensuring road safety.

Bicyclists should ride with traffic, in the street, “as far to the right as practicable” according to state law. Bicyclists are allowed but not required to use shoulders. Riding on sidewalks is not recommended and is illegal in some towns in Maine.

Where sidewalks and crosswalks exist, walkers should use them. On streets without sidewalks, pedestrians should always walk facing traffic.

The Maine Department of Transportation has been deploying low-cost safety enhancements throughout the state, including more than 500 miles of centerline rumble strips or “mumble strips” to help keep tired or distracted drivers in their lanes. Department engineers have also added enhancements to roadways to help alert drivers to upcoming changes in roadway geometry, stop conditions, or approaching traffic. Upgraded pavement markings help drivers recognize lanes in low light conditions. These enhancements have shown positive results towards making Maine’s highways safer, but there is more work to be done, and we all play a role in keeping our friends, family, neighbors, and visitors safe on our highways.

For more than 15 years, MaineDOT and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine have collaborated to provide information and develop initiatives that reduce bicycle and pedestrian safety risks. From the start of our combined efforts, the BikePed Safety Education Program has provided classroom and hands-on educational opportunities throughout the state to adults and to children through the “Safe Routes to School” program.

More recently, MaineDOT’s “Heads Up! Pedestrian Safety” initiative has worked closely with communities disproportionately experiencing pedestrian crashes to raise awareness and develop concrete and implementable strategies to improve safety. This project has also inspired several other efforts including programming for vulnerable users, an informational campaign delivered through the state’s transit providers, collaborative efforts and visibility enhancements through law enforcement agencies, and BCM’s social marketing campaign seeking to change the norms around speeding that we call “Slow ME Down.”

Please remember that we’re all going to be out there together and that we should try to be courteous and respectful of other users’ rights to our public roadways. This summer is going to be unlike any other. Let’s make sure all our memories are good ones.

— Special to the Press Herald

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