Prior to the peak tourist season in Ocean City, the State Highway Administration (SHA) has started a three-year pilot program using newly designed sidewalk markings to safely guide pedestrians along MD 528 (Coastal Highway). The new yellow and black pedestrian sidewalk markings will be located 10 feet prior to the intersections at 19th, 33rd and 49th streets in order to direct pedestrians to safe crosswalks. The pilot program specifically addresses the dangerous behavior of jaywalking.
The population of Ocean City swells June-August to such an extent that it becomes the second most populated city in the State. As a result the nine-mile Coastal Highway corridor experiences dramatically increased pedestrian activity as well as vehicular traffic with most pedestrians and drivers unfamiliar with the area. SHA traffic engineers examined pedestrian crash data for the past three years along MD 528 (Coastal Hwy) and determined the three locations at 19th, 33rd and 49th streets experienced the highest frequency of pedestrian incidents. Police reports reveal the primary cause of these crashes was failure of pedestrians to cross at marked crosswalks, or walking in a crosswalk against the traffic signal. Efforts and programs to protect pedestrians are closely coordinated between SHA, the Town of Ocean City Public Works Department and the Ocean City Police Department.
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