 |
City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
|
NEWS ADVISORY
|
| SUBJECT: City Steps up Pedestrian Safety Efforts
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
11/15/2006 5:00:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
|
City Steps up Pedestrian Safety Efforts
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels and Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske today announced
that the city is taking a series of immediate steps to improve pedestrian safety
across Seattle in response to a spate of recent accidents.
The Seattle Police Department will step up enforcement of speed limits, negligent
driving and other motor vehicle and pedestrian laws. The emphasis is designed
to improve pedestrian safety by getting drivers to slow down and drive more
cautiously, especially as the days grow shorter and winter weather sets in.
The city will install a mobile radar station near the West Seattle intersection
where Tatsuo Nakata was hit Tuesday morning while crossing the street. Nakata,
chief of staff for City Councilmember David Della, later died from his injuries.
The city will also install signs in the area to remind drivers to watch for
pedestrians.
Two other pedestrians were struck by cars and injured today while crossing
streets in West Seattle and south of Downtown.
“Drivers especially must take responsibility for keeping our streets
safe,” Nickels said. “When you are behind the wheel, a thoughtless
moment can take a life. I’m calling on all drivers to slow down, follow
the rules and stay aware.”
There were 30 serious pedestrian collisions, including nine fatalities, during
the first nine months of this year. There were 26 serious pedestrian collisions
and eight deaths in all of 2005.
“Safety is our highest priority,” said City Councilmember Jan
Drago, chair of the Transportation Committee. “Whether we are driving
or walking, we all need to slow down and become more aware of our surroundings.
On these dark rainy days, pedestrians who are in a crosswalk should not assume
that drivers can see them. We all must exercise extra caution and look out
for each other.”
Nickels and Kerlikowske have directed an increase in enforcement in tandem
with other pedestrian and traffic efforts already in place, such as the Red
Light Camera Project, jaywalking emphasis patrols and crosswalk enforcement.
“With the holidays fast approaching, we understand that both drivers
and pedestrians have many things on their mind as they go about their business.
However, it is extremely important for drivers to focus on the task at hand
and for pedestrians to be aware of their surroundings at all times,” said
Kerlikowske.
To address the increase in car/pedestrian injury accidents, traffic officers
will be paying close attention to the behaviors of both pedestrians and drivers.
Officers will be looking for drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians in marked
and unmarked crosswalks.
Pedestrians need to also be aware of their responsibility to cross streets
safely and legally. Crossing against the light can result in a jaywalking ticket.
The most common pedestrian violation is beginning to cross the street when
the red hand is flashing.
The city has emphasized pedestrian safety in recent years. Last year, Nickels
launched a 10-point pedestrian safety campaign to reduce accidents across the
city. Since then, SDOT has restriped more than 700 crosswalks to improve visibility,
erected new signs highlighting pedestrian safety, and improved numerous street
crossings.
SPD established a red light traffic camera pilot program to reduce collisions
at several major intersections, stiffened penalties for negligent driving,
and stepped up enforcing pedestrian safety laws.
SDOT and SPD have also combined resources to reduce motor vehicle/pedestrian
accidents in the heavily traveled Rainier Avenue South corridor.
Thanks to the citizens of Seattle, next year the “Bridging the Gap” transportation
program will fund many pedestrian safety projects across the city. In the first
two years, the city will build new sidewalks at high pedestrian locations near
school and transit, install five to six new pedestrian traffic signals, replace
up to 15 traditional pedestrian signals with countdown signals in the center
city, restripe more than 600 crosswalks, build up to five miles of bike trails
and work with schools on creating up to five safe routes to school.
Visit the mayor’s web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the mayor’s
inside view on efforts to promote transportation, public safety, economic opportunity
and healthy communities by signing up for The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm
Safety Tips for Drivers and Pedestrians
Drivers:
- Never pass/overtake a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk.
- Headlights should be on at all times. It helps pedestrians and other motorists
see you.
- Do not drive with distractions (cell phones, eating, etc.)
- Pay attention to and abide by all speed limits.
- Look ahead for potential dangers or people in the roadway or crosswalks;
shift your attention well ahead of the hood of your car.
- Stop for pedestrians in all crosswalks: on a two-lane road, the pedestrian
must be completely across the roadway before you begin moving again. On a
multi-lane road, you must stop for pedestrians when they are within ONE LANE
OF YOUR DIRECTION OF TRAVEL.
- Pedestrians have the right of way at ALL intersections, whether in a marked
crosswalk or not.
- Always yield to pedestrians upon making turns at intersection
- NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE.
- Know your surroundings while you drive, be a good defensive driver. Think
outside your car.
- On bright days wear sunglasses or use your sun visor to minimize bright
glare.
- Don’t let your passengers interfere with our driving.
- Always have ample driving time, try not to be in a rush—a patient
driver is a safe driver.
Pedestrians:
- Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk and you must walk
in the roadway, always walk facing traffic.
- Dress to be seen. Wearing bright/light colored clothing helps drivers see
you. Reflective clothing is the best.
- Cross streets only at marked crosswalks or intersections.
- If a car is parked where you are trying to cross, look for a driver who
may pull out and not see you as he is looking for traffic.
- Remember telephone poles, utility boxes and parked vehicles block on-coming
drivers ability to see you.
- Look LEFT – RIGHT – LEFT prior to entering the street.
- Give drivers ample time to stop prior to entering the crosswalk.
- Crossing at locations that have traffic signals helps motorist see you.
- Turn off your headphones while crossing the street, so you can hear approaching
traffic.
- Always hold a child by the hand while crossing the street and remember,
WALK don’t run
- 30 -
Office of the Mayor
| 
