Last Wednesday, September 22, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) honored King County traffic safety professionals, including our very own, Jim Curtin, for their outstanding contributions to traffic safety. For the 25th year, the WTSC recognized outstanding citizens who go beyond their job duties and make necessary contributions, changes, and improvements that affect everyone’s safety on our roads.
Jim, who is the Community Traffic Liaison for the SDOT, won an award in the category of Distracted Driving. Curtin leads the Aurora Traffic Safety Corridor project, which is designed to: save lives; reduce collisions; reduce traffic congestion due to collisions; improve pedestrian mobility along and across Aurora Avenue North; and raise awareness about the neighborhoods and businesses along the corridor.
Between April 2005 and March 2008, 1,581 collisions occurred; nearly half of those accidents were caused by inattention. Forty-nine of these collisions resulted in fatal or serious injuries.
Curtin’s Aurora Safety project tagline, “Expect the Unexpected,” is meant to reduce inattention related collisions by alerting drivers to be ready for anything at any time on Aurora. The tagline is used on promotional materials like project information cards and promotional safety gear giveaways. Billboards aimed at distracted driving have been posted along the corridor in various locations for the past year. Jim has also coordinated unique events (like the one shown in the picture above) to further support the Expect the Unexpected message.
Jim is lauded for his work with the Mayor, the Washington State Secretary of Transportation, and the Chief of the Seattle Police Department to make the road safer. In measuring results of his work, the award notes that Curtin’s coordination of enforcement activities generated 9,000 citations since the beginning of the project. It was a 100 percent increase over the same period a year ago.
Way to go, Jim!