Traffic Safety

The City of Bowie uses the "3 E's--Engineering, Education, and Enforcement" to address traffic safety issues. We believe this three-pronged approach is the best way to keep drivers and pedestrians out of harm's way.

Engineering & Traffic Calming Measures (Signs, Speed Humps,etc.)

Streets and intersections are designed with safety and efficient traffic flow in mind. To supplement this, there are an array of traffic calming measures that can be implemented to address speeding concerns on City streets.

After reviewing policies by many jurisdictions, the City of Bowie adopted the Prince George's County "Neighborhood Traffic Management Program" as a guide for addressing traffic calming requests.

The program references the process for requesting traffic calming measures in detail. It is a three-level process that begins with neighborhood involvement in a community Speed Awareness Program and special pavement striping and signs.

Based on neighborhood concerns and engineering analysis, traffic calming measures can be proposed that become progressively more restrictive to motorists using the street. These measures can include one-way streets, turn prohibitions, speed humps, traffic circles, the narrowing of the street width with "chokers" and even full road closure.

To begin the process of requesting traffic calming measures, please call Jim Henrikson, City of Bowie Director of Public Works at 301-809-2336.

View Neighborhood Traffic Management Program document (pdf - 19 pages).

Education

Education involves making sure that drivers know the speed limits and know the traffic laws that are in effect. Recent changes in motor vehicle laws are publicized by the media and the City of Bowie.

One of the educational components is the placement of digital speed trailers on City Streets. These portable devices display the speed of approaching vehicles. The trailers are placed on selected streets (weather permitting) in two separate City locations each day. Locations are determined by citizen requests, officer observation of problem areas, and other requests. Generally, police radar assignments are made in the same locations after the speed trailers are moved. These trailers do not record information – they are strictly a tool to educate the driving public as to how fast their vehicles are traveling.

To request placement of a digital speed trailer on a particular street, please call Alan Creveling in the City Manager's Office at 301-809-3079.

Enforcement

The Police Department is responsible for the enforcement of speed limits on City streets. This is done through the use of speed cameras, targeted radar enforcement, DUI enforcement and patrols.

The Department's Traffic Safety Unit enforces traffic laws, responds to traffic collisions and handles specific traffic related concerns from citizens.

Bowie's Speed Camera Program
Bowie Police Department's Traffic Safety Unit page