Increased attention on pedestrian safety during April

Public Health – Seattle & King County and the King County Traffic Safety Coalition are announcing that during the month of April law enforcement officers throughout King County will cite motorists and pedestrians who ignore pedestrian traffic laws. “Walking is an excellent way to promote good health, but to keep it safe, motorists need to follow the rules of the road and yield to pedestrians, and pedestrians need to cross streets safely,” said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. From 1993 through 2002, 314 King County pedestrians were killed and another 2,106 were seriously injured. For the same period in all of Washington, 1,019 pedestrians died and 5,120 required hospitalization for their injuries. Last year there were 11 pedestrian fatalities in the City of Seattle. “Aurora Ave in north King County is one of the most dangerous stretches of roads for pedestrians in our state,” said King County Councilmember and Board of Health Chair Carolyn Edmonds. “We need to strive for healthy and pedestrian-friendly communities.” Law enforcement agencies will conduct pedestrian safety patrols in communities around King County until the end of April, with some patrols continuing through May. Funding for these patrols comes from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. “Pedestrian safety is a priority for the Seattle Police Department,” said Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske. “Traffic collisions involving pedestrians almost always result in injuries to the pedestrian involved. We request that pedestrians take ownership for their safety to reduce the tragedy that results from car-pedestrian collisions.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises pedestrians to “See and Be Seen” and to follow pedestrian safety tips:1. Teach children the “safe street crossing method” 2. Cross only with an adult or older friend. 3. Cross only at intersections with signals 4. Watch for turning vehicles. 5. Stop at the curb. Look left, right, left, and over your shoulder for traffic. 6. Continue to look as you cross the street. 7. Stop and look around parked cars or other objects that block the view of traffic. 8. Let oncoming traffic pass, then look again before crossing. 9. Make eye contact with drivers to make sure they see you. Dress to be seen by drivers. If walking at night, carry a flashlight and wear reflective clothing. Wear bright or fluorescent clothing during the day. Use paths and sidewalks. If you must walk on or near a road, remember to walk facing oncoming traffic and stay as far to the side as possible. Always look for oncoming traffic. Remember many objects may block a driver’s view. Use caution when crossing multi-lane roadways even in crosswalks and even if some cars have stopped for you, a motorist in a second or third lane may still not see you. Traffic signs and signals may not protect you. Look for traffic even if you are in a crosswalk and are crossing with the light or with the walk signal. Some drivers may not see or obey traffic signs or signals. Turning vehicles are especially dangerous at intersections. Make sure the driver of a vehicle that is turning sees you. Always follow traffic signals and crossing signage. Cross only at designated crossing areas, especially on roads with high volumes of traffic. Never cross a freeway or interstate unless there is a designated pedestrian path with a crosswalk. Stay off of I-5 and I-90. Vehicles in need of assistance should park as far away from the roadway as possible and call 911 from a cellular phone and wait for assistance. Nationally NHTSA reported that in 2003, on average, a pedestrian is injured every eight minutes and killed every 111 minutes.