Being Smart: OC Launches Annual Walk/Bike/Drive Smart Campaign

OCEAN CITY, Md. – The Summer’s almost here, and that means Ocean City is launching their big safety campaign to keep everyone safe on the Coastal Highway.

For the thirteenth year in a row, Ocean City leadership is kicking off the summer with their Walk Smart, Bike Smart, Drive Smart Campaign.

Mayor Rick Meehan says they want to minimize accidents as millions come to Maryland.

“Probably five, five and a half million of those visitors are going to come between now and Labor Day. So it’s extremely important that some of them are here for the first time. We need to get them acclimated to Ocean City. We need to remind them that we want you to have a good time. But obey the rules of the road so that everybody stays safe,” says Mayor Meehan.

That’s why Ocean City and their local law enforcement are partnering with the Maryland Department of Transportation: to make sure everyone on the road is covered.

MDOT Highway Administrator, Will Pines tells us, “…You have new drivers. You have folks that have gotten used to doing bad habits. So having a campaign that regularly reminds folks of the risks that occur on roadways; we have, unfortunately nearly 600 fatalities a year in Maryland roadways. It’s just unacceptable. We want to make sure everyone gets to come to the beach, enjoy it the entire time…”

Much like the Department of Transportation, Ocean City Police are hammering home this campaign with the goal of ending traffic-related deaths.

Ocean City Traffic Safety Unit Sergeant, Nathan Kutz says, “Well, we need the buy in from everybody, no matter who you are, if you’re a pedestrian, a cyclist, a motorist, us in law enforcement, the community, residents, visitors, everybody has got to be in on this day of no crashes. If we’re going to accomplish zero deaths, we’ve all got to come together.”

Ocean City expects over eight million people to visit this summer.