By Jennifer Burbridge

Seattle Police SW Precinct 

Crime Prevention Coordinator 

With the new school year starting, September’s SW Precinct monthly article will focus on pedestrian and traffic safety.

Pedestrians must be very mindful of how they are utilizing the street, sidewalks and crosswalks- children should be reminded to be extra cautious when walking to and from school. Motorists and cyclists must pay attention to traffic conditions and all pedestrians. The most important overall advice for any kind of pedestrian and traffic safety is PAY ATTENTION!! Drivers, please be aware that with school back in session in the next few weeks, children will be walking to and from schools and transit stops. As autumn approaches- there will be less daylight; please pay extra attention, as children may be out early in the morning/late in the evening and may be more difficult to see. 

Some important pedestrian safety tips include: plan your route to avoid uninhabited area (including parks, parking lots, garages and alleys), pick routes with good lighting and clear visibility, look both ways before crossing the street, only cross street at street corners or marked crosswalks or intersections, give drivers ample time to stop prior to you entering the crosswalk, pedestrians should make eye contact with drivers when crossing the street- to ensure they have been seen, always walk on the sidewalk- if there is no sidewalk, always walk facing traffic, wear bright/light colored or reflective clothing at night so drivers can see you and remember that telephone poles, utility boxes and parked vehicles can block an on-coming driver’s ability to see pedestrians.

A few crucial safety suggestions related specifically to children include: teach children at an early age to look left, right and left again before crossing the street- then remind them to continue looking until safely across, teach kids to phones, headphones and devices down when crossing the street (it is particularly important to reinforce this message with teenagers), children under 10 years old need to cross the street with an adult- every child is different but developmentally, most children are unable to judge the speed and distance of oncoming cars until about age 10, be a good role model- set a good example by putting your phone, headphones and devices down when walking across the street. 

Some important driver awareness safety tips include: pay attention to and abide by all speed limits, watch your speed when entering school zones (speeding in a school zone is a $234 ticket), be watchful around schools and bus stops for children running into the street, watch for children entering the street from behind buses or running to catch a bus, keep in mind that pedestrians have the right of way in all intersections- whether in a marked crosswalk or not, always look and yield for pedestrians when making turns at intersections, always pull to the right and slow or stop to allow emergency vehicles to go by (emergency vehicles will have red and/or blue lights), do not drive with distractions (cell phone, eating, drinking, putting on make-up, etc.)- using a cellphone while driving is a $136 ticket- unless it is hand-free, do not allow passengers to interfere with your driving, be aware of weather conditions, know your surroundings and always have ample driving time- try not to be in a rush- a patient driver is a safe driver. 

Below you will find my contact information, including email and phone numbers. Keep an eye out for my article next month, which will again focus on a specific crime/safety issue and include important prevention techniques and ideas. Please feel free to contact me with questions, concerns and/or to request my presence at a future meeting. Also, contact me if you would like more information about Block Watch, if you would like to set up a safety assessment of your home or business and/or if you are interested in free firearm cable locks.

Email address: Jennifer.Burbridge@seattle.gov

Desk phone number: (206) 256-6820

Work cell phone number: (206) 471-2849

Upcoming events in SW Precinct-

• Monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting
  • Tuesday September 19th, 7pm- 8:30pm, at SW Precinct (2300 SW Webster St.)
• West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting
  • Tuesday September 26th, 6:30pm- 8:30pm, at SW Precinct (2300 SW Webster St.)

Other resources-

• Seattle Police Department’s Website: http://www.seattle.gov/police/
• Seattle Police Department Non-Emergency Number: (206) 625-5011
• Contact information for other SPD Crime Prevention Coordinators: 
  • North Precinct- Mary Amberg- Mary.Amberg@seattle.gov
  • East Precinct- Felicia Cross- Felicia.Cross@seattle.gov
  • West Precinct- Terrie Johnston- Terrie.Johnston@seattle.gov
  • South Precinct- Mark Solomon- Mark.Solomon@seattle.gov

 Resources and information on pedestrian and traffic safety-

• http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/saferoutes_education.htm
• https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/walk/safety.htm
• http://wsdot.wa.gov/planning/SHSP.htm
• https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety
• https://www.safekids.org/walkingsafelytips