Seattle's new program urges citizens to 'Be Super Safe'
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SEATTLE -- Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and other local officials launched a new road safety campaign Wednesday called "Be Super Safe." Inspired by the tragic hit-and-run death last summer of cyclist Mike Wang, the goal is to prevent any more deaths on the city's roads, be it cyclists, drivers or pedestrians deaths.
"Each year, on average, 26 people die on the Seattle streets," said Dr. David Fleming, Director of Public Health, Seattle & King County. He helped design the campaign.
"These deaths that are occurring in our city are 100 percent preventable," Fleming said. "The person's who's texting with their cellphone or who's driving while drunk and crashes into someone -- that's not an accident."
Part of the Be Super Safe campaign includes intensified police patrols in high-traffic areas with a history of trouble, more effort to education people about the rules, and urging people to simply be nicer.
"Attitudes change," McGinn said. "We can all be more alert and take personal responsibility and when we do that, that's when you see real change in the public health arena."
Money for the campaign will come from various sources, including transportation programs already in the city budget. McGinn says the city is still working to calculate the total cost.
"Each year, on average, 26 people die on the Seattle streets," said Dr. David Fleming, Director of Public Health, Seattle & King County. He helped design the campaign.
"These deaths that are occurring in our city are 100 percent preventable," Fleming said. "The person's who's texting with their cellphone or who's driving while drunk and crashes into someone -- that's not an accident."
Part of the Be Super Safe campaign includes intensified police patrols in high-traffic areas with a history of trouble, more effort to education people about the rules, and urging people to simply be nicer.
"Attitudes change," McGinn said. "We can all be more alert and take personal responsibility and when we do that, that's when you see real change in the public health arena."
Money for the campaign will come from various sources, including transportation programs already in the city budget. McGinn says the city is still working to calculate the total cost.
How about they start by ticketing jay walkers and bikes that think the streets are a good place to play Frogger. Also if you drive a car and hit and run charge the drive with straight up murder. The roads are not a place to mess around!!
LOL! Or you can just tell people to drive normally, pay attention, and quit being stupid! Really McGinn? Geez!
Well they can start by posting some "Beware of Transients on Roadway" signs along I-5 downtown. That will cut down on some of those deaths.
And maybe go after both aggressive bicyclists and idiot pedestrians as well as drivers. That would be a change.
So the new program  "Be Super Safe" will replace the old program "Be Super Reckless?" Liberals, you can't live with them and they think you can't live without them.
Remember drivers that in most roadways, you have to wait until the pedestrian is completely across the dividing line on two-way, or completely across the entire road in one-ways (conditions vary). Â Also stop behind the HUGE freaking white lines. Â Rolling into pedestrians or blocking their way so they have to go into oncoming traffic really is my biggest pet peeve. Â I let them know about it too, motioning to them to stop, motioning them to move back, pointing at them and telling them loudly they have to be better drivers than that. Â I'm an aggressive pedestrian. Â I admit it. Â Thing is - which party has a license and which doesn't. Â That tells you all you need to know who is the superior. Â Ha!
 @ETSubmariner You are right about the distance. I am uncomfortable if I am forced to stop too close to the sidewalk, even for a self-righteous pedestrian that hops out in front of me.
you couldn't pay me to ride a bike on the streets of Seattle, especially downtown.