Distracted Walking

I have learned after all the years I have been in safety, I have not seen everything.  This latest safety issue was brought up at the Governor’s Safety Conference (although it’s been around for a while) - “distracted walking”.  You heard correctly.  There are many people using their cell phones and other devices and not paying attention to where they are walking.  In fact, several times over the last couple of years I have been walked into by someone using their device, not paying attention to where they are going, and then they give me a dirty look.

According to Liberty Mutual Insurance, data has revealed that 60 percent of pedestrians do other things while they’re walking like texting, emailing, talking on the phone, or listening to music. And even though 70 percent consider those behaviors to be dangerous while walking in a crosswalk—it doesn’t stop them.

An article in HRM partners states that “...According to recent studies, ‘distracted walking’ is a growing safety concern. According to an article this past summer by the Associated Press, reports of distracted walkers treated at emergency rooms has more than quadrupled in the past seven years.”

The bottom line is that we all need to pay attention to where we are walking, riding, etc., especially while at work.  Another issue is that if employers allow employees to use these devices in this manner, what is their L&I liability for employees injured on the job while using them?

Just think, we humans will always be figuring out new ways to hurt ourselves in the future so we in safety will never rest.

If you need help regarding a safety issue give us a call at Evergreen Safety Council, we can help.

Contributed by By Eric Tofte, Director of Training Evergreen Safety Council

Sharing the Road with Light Rail

Contributed by Norm Nyhuis, Trainer, Evergreen Safety Council

Sharing the road, has always been a fact of life, while making your way around Seattle. Cars, buses, trucks, bicyclists, and pedestrians now have something else to be aware of as you move through town; light rail trains. While much of the route the Sound Transit light rail trains use is elevated, there is a significant portion of the route that runs on surface streets, and must share the road with the rest of us.

Those of us who live and work in the South Lake Union neighborhood have already experienced the light rail cars running from down town to the Fred Hutchinson Research center. The plans are for both of these rail routes to expand and work is already underway for the expansion, so the number of people with the potential to come into contact with the light rails systems is also increasing.

These trains provide a new challenge in that they do not have the ability to take evasive action, to avoid a collision with another vehicle or person.

Some factors to consider:
The trains are quiet: so when approaching the rails, everyone must be alert for their approach. Electronic signage will help, but each of us, whether a driver or a pedestrian must be watching for them.
The trains are quick: they travel at the posted speed limit for the road way, added to the fact that the trains are heavy, there is a tremendous amount of momentum to arrest, before the train can stop. Being distracted by electronic devices or even just talking with a friend while approaching a rail crossing can quickly turn in to a life and death situation.

Take a look at the attached PSA from Sound Transit, and most of all, be alert when approaching a light rail crossing . . . .

Signs, Signs - Everywhere

Contributed by Norm Nyhuis, Trainer, Evergreen Safety Council
Highway signs. Sometimes there just are none when you need them most. I have determined the number of useful highway signs is inversely proportional to the degree to which I am lost – but that’s another story. Someone, in some highway department somewhere has the unenviable job of thinking-up the wording to use on a sign. It must not be too “wordy’ as there is a limited amount of space, it has to be succinct and convey the message accurately. After doing this job, for who knows how long, it appears the person needs a vacation, a nice, long vacation . . . I offer the following signs as evidence:

Gotta’ watch those slippery pedestrians!

Maybe this is why the pedestrians are so slippery?

I’d say this one wins the “Truth in Advertising” award

Too much information!

Pay attention to the signs when you are driving, and if you see one that should be added to our collection, send it to us, and we’ll share it on our web site.

Pedestrian Safety Tips for Halloween

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center offers the following tips for the upcoming Halloween holiday weekend.

Guidelines for safe walking at Halloween
1. Parents and Adults Should be Involved

Young children need a parent or other adult to go trick or treating with them. There is no magic age when children are old enough to walk alone. Parents need to judge when their children are mature enough to go without an adult.

Review crossing safety rules with children. Tell them to:

• Even when adults are looking, always look for cars for yourself.


• Stop at the curb and look left, right and left again for traffic.


• Wait until no traffic is coming and begin crossing. Keep looking for traffic until you have finished crossing.


• When crossing the street at an intersection, obey traffic signs and signals and look for yourself to see if cars are coming. Look left, right and left and then behind you and in front of you for turning cars.


• Walk, don't run across the street.

2. Cross Safely

• Choose the safest routes to walk.


• Pick places where there are sidewalks or paths separated from traffic if possible.


• Look for well-lit streets with slow traffic.


• Remind children to watch for cars turning or pulling out of driveways.


• Limit the number of street crossings. Avoid crossing busy or high-speed roads.

3. Be Visible

• Think visibility. Wear bright colors, use retro reflective materials. Carry flashlights. In bad weather, visibility is even more important.


• Choose homes that welcome Halloween visitors. Look for well lit driveways, walkways or paths to the front door.


• Do a costume check. Can the children walk easily in the outfit? Make sure the masks or head gear allow the children to see clearly what is around them. Be sure they can safely negotiate steps on dimly lit walkways.


• When taking a group of kids trick or treating:


• Have a good ratio of parents/adults to children. For young children, consider 1 adult for every 3 children.


• Arrange the adults so that there is an adult in the front and one in the back. This is to prevent children from getting ahead or lagging behind the group.


• Plan how to cross streets:
  *Avoid busy, high-speed or multi-lane roads.
  *Give children exiting the street room to enter the sidewalk area.


• Remember children are not miniature adults.
  *They often act before thinking.
  *They have one-third narrower side vision.
  *They can't judge speed.
  *They are shorter than adults and can't see over cars and bushes.


• Make sure the children understand what is expected of them. Have a plan for dealing with disruptive kids.

Messages for Motorists:

• Drive slowly through residential streets and areas where pedestrians trick-or-treating could be expected.


• Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.


• Watch for children walking on roadways, medians, and curbs.


• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.


• At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing

It was a dark and stormy morning

On any given day I am a pedestrian, a bus rider, a carpooler and/or a driver, and sometimes it is important to remind each group how we can keep ourselves safe.

Winter has finally arrived and today was the first of many dark, rainy commutes into the city...and I have a beef - I can't see you people! Yes, I mean you - dashing across the street in a vain attempt to stay dry in your black shoes, dark pants, black trench coat and carrying a black computer bag, oblivious to everything while talking on your cellphone.

In the event of a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, it is often the pedestrian who suffers a serious, and possibly life altering, injury; even when they were crossing the street in a marked crosswalk. This being true, pedestrians should follow these tips whenever walking near or crossing a roadway:

• Use crosswalks, but still remember to follow the tips…
• Do not assume the drive sees you even if you see the driver – Make eye contact before crossing.
• Walk on paths or sidewalks. Otherwise walk facing traffic.
• Wear bright colors or reflective materials, especially in the dark or in inclement weather.
  If you typically wear a dark colored jacket, dark pants and dark shoes, and carry a dark colored bag or case, chances are you cannot be seen. Attach a lighted beacon or reflective tape to your outerwear or bag.
• Use extra caution when talking on a cell phone or wearing headphones. Better yet, don’t distract yourself and stay alert.

Drivers:

• Slow down.
• Expect the unexpected.
• Look for movement on the sides of the road and/or between parked cars. There could be pedestrians or bicyclists who are going to enter the roadway.

What do you do to keep yourself safe on the roadway? Do you have a good story to share about what not to do while on the roadway?

Lots of Safe Driving Stuff

We almost missed it!
Drive Safely Work Week is Oct. 5-9
The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety is sponsoring Drive Safely Work Week, Oct. 5-9. This year's theme is "Drive Focused. Drive Smart. Get Home Safely." It focuses on the issues of distracted driving and minimizing the impact that driving habits can have on the environment.

Traffic crashes are the No. 1 cause of workplace injury and death. Northwest employers/workers be sure to mark your calendars for the May 20, 2010 WA Traffic Safety Conference and plan to attend. Plans are underway for another informative agenda. Stay tuned. We also welcome ideas and comments - if there is a topic that especially interests you, please let us know.

If you don't want to wait until May to be sure your employees are operating as defensive drivers, consider scheduling an EverSafe Driving Program onsite training. Our experienced trainers can come to your organization and focus on your employees driving situations and concerns.

Obama bans federal employees from text messaging while driving
At the conclusion of a two-day summit on distracted driving, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order prohibiting federal employees from text messaging while driving in government-owned vehicles.

"This order sends a very clear signal to the American public that distracted driving is dangerous and unacceptable. It shows that the federal government is leading by example," LaHood said.

The summit, which took place Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Washington DC, attracted senior transportation officials, elected officials, safety advocates, law enforcement representatives, private-sector representatives and academics.

The administration's plan includes the creation of three separate rulemakings establishing restrictions and penalties for cell phone use and texting while operating vehicles. The rules would affect rail operators, truck and interstate bus operators and commercial motor vehicle drivers.

Does your organization have a written plan in place regarding cell phone use and texting while driving on company business? You should. If you need help or don't know where to start, ESC can help.

NHTSA: Quiet hybrid vehicles a risk to pedestrians, bicyclists
The quiet engines in hybrid vehicles may pose a safety risk to pedestrians and bicyclists, according to a new study (.pdf file) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Researchers compared the number of pedestrian and bicyclist crashes involving both hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and more common internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Findings show that vehicles with the quiet HEV engines have higher-incidence crash rates.

Additional findings show:
- Pedestrians were twice as likely to be hit by an HEV when the vehicle was slowing or stopping, backing up, or entering or exiting a parking space.
- Bicyclist crashes involving HEVs at intersections or interchanges were significantly higher than those involving ICE vehicles.

Parent-teen interaction decreases teen crash fatalities: study
The way parents communicate rules and monitor teens' driving could reduce the chances that teens will take part in risky driving behavior and be involved in a crash, according to new research (.pdf file) conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

As part of CIRP's Young Driver Research Initiative, researchers released findings from two studies on Sept. 28. According to a study abstract, the first study shows teens who had supportive parents who established rules were:
- Half as likely to be involved in a crash
- 71 percent less likely to drive while intoxicated
- Less likely to use a cell phone while driving
- More likely to use seat belts

The second study shows teens who reported being the main driver of a vehicle were more likely to get in a crash than teens who shared a vehicle with other family members.

Researchers also noted the effectiveness of Graduated Driver Licensing laws in reducing teen crash rates during the first 6-12 months of driving.

Teens appreciate online and computer training. Consider taking the Coaching the Experienced Driver CD-ROM/web based training program. It's a great way to start a dialog between you and your teen regarding driving situations, proper reactions and the rules of the road. Order online today.

Source: The National Safety Council

Annual survey needs volunteers throughout WA to count bicyclists and pedestrians

Volunteers are needed in communities across the state to help count the number of people who walk or bike to their destinations. The information being gathered this fall will be used to track progress toward the state’s goal of increasing bicycling and walking in Washington and reducing the number of vehicle miles driven.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Cascade Bicycle Club are enlisting volunteers and organizations like FeetFirst and the Bicycle Alliance of Washington to count the numbers of people bicycling and walking on paths, bike lanes, sidewalks, and other facilities on Sept. 29 and 30 and Oct. 1.

“We had a great turnout of volunteers in 2008,” said Ian Macek, WSDOT Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator. “This effort can not be done without their help, so we hope to see an increase in volunteer support this year.”

WSDOT is doing this as part of the National Documentation Project, an annual bicycle and pedestrian count and survey effort that is sponsored by the Institute of Transportation Engineers Pedestrian and Bicycle Council, and to determine progress toward its goal of increasing non-motorized trips.

Cascade Bicycle Club is using its network of members and other volunteers to perform the counts in selected cities (Bellevue, Bellingham, Bothell, Bremerton, Ellensburg, Everett, Issaquah, Kelso, Kent, Kirkland, Longview, Olympia, Redmond, Richland, Spokane, Tacoma, Tukwila, Vancouver, Walla Walla, Wenatchee and Yakima). Those who are interested in helping can learn more by visiting WSDOT’s Web site, www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/Count.htm, or by contacting Cascade Bicycle Club at organizer@cascadebicycleclub.org or calling 206-957-0689.

For more information contact: Ian Macek, WSDOT Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator, 360-705-7596

A follow-up trends report will be available in January 2010 at www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/Count.htm.

Note: Communities that participated in the 2008 count included Bellevue, Bellingham, Bothell, Bremerton, Ellensburg, Everett, Kent, Kirkland, Longview, Olympia, Richland, Spokane, Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Walla Walla, Wenatchee and Yakima. Communities added in 2009 include Issaquah, Kelso, Redmond and Tukwila.

WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

Federal Safe Routes to School Reauthorization

This is from our friends at Feet First.


Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Burr (R-NC), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have joined together to introduce the Safe Routes to School Program Reauthorization Act (S. 1156).


This is an exciting and important step forward as these five diverse Senators have agreed to champion the federal Safe Routes to School program. To get more Senators to step up as leaders on Safe Routes to School, Feet First needs your help. Your Senators need to hear from you about the importance of growing and strengthening the Safe Routes to School program in the next transportation bill.


The Safe Routes to School program encourages students to walk to school by building sidewalks, making crossings safer and providing outstanding safety education and encouragement with fun activities like Walking Wednesdays.


Please take just five minutes to contact your two Senators to ask them to show their support for the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program by co-sponsoring the legislation. To do so, follow this link.

PEDESTRIAN INJURY DATA SOURCES

This information came from the Pedestrian Safety Workshop which took place during the June 16th King County Traffic Safety Coalition Meeting.

If you are at all interested or concerned about pedestrian safety, below is a wealth of Internet resources and data.

ONLINE RESOURCES:

--Washington State DOT collision data: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/tdo/accidentannual.htm

--Washington Traffic Safety Commission FARS data: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/ncsa/fars.html#FARSq

--Washington Traffic Safety Commission recent fatality data: http://www.wtsc.wa.gov/research/collisiondata.php.

--King County Medical Examiner's Office: http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/examiner.aspx

--Washington State Trauma Registry: contact Ann Glusker for more information

--State Department of Health Injury page: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Data/Injury.htm

--WISQARS http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html

--Federal Highway Safety Information System data (comes from state data so it may overlap substantially): http://www.hsisinfo.org/hsis.cfm?num=5&page=1

--ATSIP links page http://www.atsip.org/index.php?/atsip/links

--CIREN http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.1c5bf5af32c6dfd24ec86e10dba046a0/

RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS:

--Harborview pedestrian injury publications: http://depts.washington.edu/hiprc/pedinj.html

--FeetFirst maps: http://www.feetfirst.info/mapping/index_html

--King County pedestrian fatalities report:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/injury/PedestrianReport.aspx

--TRIS (Transportation Research Information Services) website (abstracts and full-text documents on virtually anything transportation related- type in search term “pedestrian”): http://search.bts.gov/tris/searchinput.do

--Washington State Department of Transportation 'Better Decisions Through Better Data':
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/tdo/PDF_and_ZIP_Files/TDOCommunicationPlan.pdf

--Washington State DOT collision data reports: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/tdo/accidentannual.htm and
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/tdo/PDF_and_ZIP_Files/2006_Annual_Collision_Data_Summary_-_All_Roads.pdf

--Report on King County, “Managing Pedestrian Safety I: Injury Severity” by Anne Vernez Moudon, Lin Lin, and Phil Hurvitz: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/671.1.pdf

DATA CONTACTS/ DATA REQUESTS:
Ann Glusker and Eva Wong
Public Health-Seattle & King County
(206) 296-2776
data.request@kingcounty.gov

Dick Doane
Washington Traffic Safety Commission
(360) 725-9894
ddoane@WTSC.WA.GOV

Geneva Hawkins
Washington State Department of Transportation Collision Data & Analysis
(360) 570-2490
hawking@wsdot.wa.gov

Washington State DOT "Request for Collision Data" form: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/tdo/collisiondatarequest.htm