Lake City neighbors gathered on Tuesday evening to politely remind drivers to stop for pedestrians. This ‘crosswalk action’ took place at the intersection of Lake City Way and NE 130th Street – where pedestrian-vehicle conflicts occur most frequently along the State Route 522/Lake City Way corridor. This was the first of many similar outreach activities slated to occur on Lake City Way over the next few years as the city, state, and residents prepare to launch the Lake City Way Traffic Safety Corridor in 2014.
Our partners at the Seattle Police Department will be supporting pedestrian safety this weekend. As part of the Road Safety Action Plan and the “Be Super Safe” outreach campaign, the Seattle Police Department’s Traffic Section will be conducting pedestrian safety emphasis patrols on Saturday, November 16th, from 8 AM until 6 PM, on four key Seattle corridors: North 45th Street, Rainier Avenue South, Aurora Avenue North and Lake City Way.
The locations being targeted were selected based on numbers of pedestrian-related collisions in corridors across the city. Enforcement will focus on behaviors that are most commonly associated with these collisions, specifically speeding, distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and following the rules of the road, such as yielding to those who have the right of way.
Seattle’s long-term goal for our roads is to have zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030. Currently, there is an average of 500 pedestrian-involved collisions each year. Between 2007 and 2010, 30 pedestrians were killed in crashes on our streets. And, despite the fact that pedestrian-involved collisions only made up 2% of all collisions during the same time period, pedestrians represented 24% of all serious injuries and fatalities.
Fewer hours of daylight also affect safety this time of year. Collisions involving pedestrians become more frequent and more severe during our darkest months—November, December, and January. The good news is that 90 percent of all collisions—involving pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles—are caused by human error and can be prevented by practicing safer habits.
As the holiday season approaches, and the rain returns, we remind people to Be Super Safe and use extra caution on the roads.