Please join SDOT, City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, West Precinct Sgt. Paul Gracy, Paris Jackson with KOMO 4, local band Tubaluba, Seattle Seahawks’ mascot Blitz, and a team of safety elves to kick-off our annual Holiday Pedestrian Safety Campaign – Saturday, November 23, 1:00 p.m. at Westlake Park.
A snapshot from last year’s kick-off event – Tubaluba and the Safety Elves spreading cheer and safety messages.
This weekend marks the start of our fifth annual Center City Holiday Pedestrian Safety Campaign. The campaign is part of the City’s larger Road Safety Action Plan and Be Super Safe, an ongoing effort to reach zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
During the winter holiday season, there are more people traveling downtown and fewer daylight hours, so making sure that we’re watching out for each other while driving or walking is especially important. We’ve seen remarkable reductions in pedestrian collisions since the campaign started five years ago – down on average 37 percent – but even one collision is too many.
The 2013 campaign will kick things off this Saturday, November 23, 1:00 p.m. at Westlake Park. Join members of SDOT, SPD, the Seattle City Council, local band Tubaluba, our very own safety elves, and Seahawks’ mascot Blitz (go Hawks!) as we head into the holiday season. We’ll have live music, dancing elves, and plenty of information on how to be safe – whether you drive, walk, or ride your bike downtown.
From late November to mid-January, the safety elves will be hitting the streets of downtown – dancing, high-fiving, and reminding everyone to be super safe. During this time, the Seattle Police Department will also be conducting downtown safety emphasis patrols.
Within the Center City, the leading cause of pedestrian collisions is drivers not stopping for people in the crosswalk, particularly when turning left or right. The safety elves and the Police Department will remind drivers and pedestrians alike to “drive with care and walk aware.”
Have a safe and happy holiday season, visit our wonderful downtown, and keep each other safe on our streets. For more information on the Center City Holiday Pedestrian Safety Campaign, and to give yourself a refresher on the rules of the road, head to www.seattle.gov/safeHappyHolidays.