Mayor’s Office and SDOT to launch Road Safety Action Plan on Wednesday

On Wednesday, Aug. 29, the Mayor’s Office and Seattle Department of Transportation will launch their 2012 Road Safety Action Plan, which is the culmination of last year’s Road Safety Summit.

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Pictured: Mayor McGinn meets with members of the community to discuss road safety in the city.

Following the deaths of multiple bicyclists in the summer of 2011 –Michael Wang, Robert Townsend and Brian Fairbrother –the Mayor’s Office stepped up and called for a Road Safety Summit. Three public forums were held in north, central, and south Seattle between October and December 2011, during which Seattle residents, local agencies, and community transportation leaders were asked to contribute ideas, speak honestly, and listen to each other about what we need from our fellow travelers to be safe on the road.

The summit centered around three basic questions:

- What do you think are the highest priority safety problems to solve on Seattle roads?

- What do you think are the most important things to do to make Seattle roads safer?

- We often talk about what government can do to promote safety. What are the ways that non-governmental groups and individuals can promote safety?

A Summit Workgroup of experts, roadway users, advocates, major employers and business and community leaders was formed to review the public comments, use their knowledge of road safety data and best practices, and consider available opportunities and resources to chart a path to action.

On Wednesday, SDOT and the Mayor’s Office will launch their road safety and outreach plan to the public with a Road Safety fair in downtown Seattle.

The Road Safety Action Plan lays out a long-term campaign of education, enforcement, evaluation and culture change to reach the city’s goal of zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Seattle roads.

Taking place in the plaza between Whole Foods and 2201 Westlake Avenue, the event will feature an hour-long safety fair from noon till 1 p.m., followed by the launch of the Road Safety Action Plan between 1 and 2 p.m.

Cascade will be present at the fair to answer questions about bicycle safety.

Please visit http://www.seattle.gov/roadsafety/ for more information.