Seattle launches road safety campaign

Seattle is kicking off a new public awareness campaign to ensure safety on city roads, aptly titled “Be Super Safe.”

Mayor Mike McGinn launched the new effort just hours before traffic reporter Shane Cobane reported a man had been hit by a car on NE 130th and Aurora in Seattle.

The accident is just one reason the city is dumping resources into improving road conditions. The Road Safety Action Plan aims to achieve zero fatalities and serious injuries by focusing on speeding, distracted drivers, fewer DUIs, better roadway design, and creating a culture of empathy.

How do you do all that? The city plans to increase enforcement at areas prone to high rates of collisions, use digital signs for safety messages, outreach programs in neighborhoods, better collision review process, and increased outreach. The city believes with a better review process, it can target its audiences

“We share our roads with our friends, our neighbors, and our family members. It’s up to each of us to do what it takes to help them be safe,” said Mayor Mike McGinn. “Our Road Safety Action Plan lays out concrete steps the City and our partners will take to improve safety. Those steps are looking out for each other, the key ingredient to reducing fatalities and serious injuries.”

Doug Palm of PATH says making simple decisions like waiting for the walk signal to cross a street, or to slow down and pay attention behind the wheel, our streets will immediately be safer.