Mayor launches 10-point pedestrian safety campaign -- in Seattle!

New Seattle street sign.

Year after year Seattle wins awards for being a walkable city,” Nickels said. “I want to make sure residents and visitors can walk throughout Seattle safely – that means increasing pedestrian and driver awareness.”
- Mayor Greg Nickels

From the press release:

SEATTLE - Walking the pedestrian talk, Mayor Greg Nickels todayannounced a comprehensive campaign to increase pedestrian safety andmake Seattle streets safer. The campaign will launch with a series ofTV and radio Public Service Announcements (PSAs), pedestrian streetsigns, billboards and a Web site urging people to "Drive Carefully…Think of the Impact You Could Make."

To view/listen to the PSAs go to the mayor's Web site www.seattle.gov/mayor/issues/pedsafety.

Mayor Nickels' 10 Point Plan for Pedestrian Safety

1. We have Public Service Announcements [for television, web, and radio] to alert drivers and pedestrians to the 3 most common pedestrian v. auto accidents;
2. You’ll also see new signs that will be installed in busy pedestrian corridors;
3. Billboards will reinforce these signs;
4. The walking routes to two schools — TT Minor and Bailey Gatzert — will be improved;
5. We’ll be visiting kids at schools and community centers this summer, to talk about how to cross safely;
6. Seattle Police Department will step up enforcement of pedestrian safety laws;
7. Strengthen the penalties for drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians;
8. 110 crosswalks at 50 intersections will be upgraded, so they are easier to see;
9. Launch red light camera enforcement pilot project; and
10. Rotate speed limit trailers throughout the city to force drivers to slow down.
    View a list of proposed locations for billboards and signs - Adobe PDF 16 kb

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Making their way across Connecticut Avenue, pedestrians use a bright orange flag to alert motorists. Photo Credit: Kevin Clark -- The Washington Post.

For the Washington alternative, check out "Battle Flag of the Pedestrians" from the Washington Post.