<![CDATA[Distracted Driving Kills - Blog]]>Sun, 12 May 2024 13:41:09 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[The Ripple Effect]]>Fri, 29 Jun 2018 19:52:11 GMThttp://snocotargetzero.org/blog/the-ripple-effectI spend a lot of time in schools teaching traffic safety.  Every time I teach a class, I have students approach me and share their stories.  Some are funny stories, some are tragic, and others are horrifying.  It got me thinking of the ripple effect that a serious injury collision or fatality has on our entire society.  The immediate victims of traffic crashes are obvious: The injured or killed and their immediate families.  My family has suffered at the hands of a drunk driver that killed a young family member.  I’m familiar with that pain and the ripple effect it has on immediate family. 
I’m also a former first responder.  I know firsthand how these crashes effect our 911 dispatchers, police, fire, doctors and nurses and ER staff, among others.  These are people who deal with these horrifying events day in and day out, yet somehow are able to channel the grief and anger they feel into making a difference every day. 
One of my task force officers often tells the story that led him to become one of the leading DUI arrest officers in the state.  He was working and saw a car peeling out at a stop sign.  He decided not to stop the vehicle, as the offense wasn’t so serious. Just some teenagers having fun.  Not long after, he received a call to a severe crash.  When he arrived he found that very same vehicle mangled beyond recognition.  He wound up holding a dying teenage girl in his arms and comforting her as she passed away.  If he had stopped that car back at that stop sign, he would’ve discovered a drunk driver.  He went home that night with her blood on his uniform and a resolve to do what he can to stop it from happening again.
Over the years I’ve heard stories from first responders – especially paramedics and firefighters who see the aftermath of these crashes on a daily basis.  They try to save the lives they encounter, then go home to their families and have a normal life.  Some succeed, some don’t.  Law enforcement, dispatch and Fire/EMS careers have some of the highest divorce, suicide and substance abuse rates in the nation.  These calls day-in an day-out over a period of years take their mental toll.
What about the victims we don’t think about?  I was at a local high school teaching a traffic safety class and a shy teenage girl approached me after class and asked a heartbreaking question.  “Do you know if people ever get out of prison early?”  I thought it was an odd questions.  I responded “Sometimes they do, if they are eligible for parole, or sometimes they are released early for good behavior”.  She then tells me “A few years ago my mom was high on meth and she hit and killed a pedestrian with her car.  She called me from prison and told me she might be getting out early.”  She looked so hopeful that her mom might be released – as she had been living in foster care, being bounced around.  I was dumbstruck for a moment.  This hopeful, shy, sweet girl was suffering because of her mother’s terrible decision.  She is a victim too. 
These are the human toll that these crashes have on our society.  Compound it with the social, economic and cultural toll that car crashes have.  Somehow, 40,000 people being killed in car crashes in a single year in the United States has become acceptable in our driving culture.  We rely on our transportation, we even feel entitled to it.  We forget that it is a privilege.  As a society, we need to remember that every time you send that text, have a drink, don’t get enough sleep, or speed down that roadway, we are not just making decisions for ourselves – we are making decisions we have no right to make.  We are making decisions for every single person we encounter on that roadway – and beyond.

]]><![CDATA[Seatbelt Safety]]>Wed, 23 May 2018 17:56:48 GMThttp://snocotargetzero.org/blog/seatbelt-safetyPicture
If you were born after 1970, Seatbelt safety has been drilled into your head since childhood.  Because of that, parts of Washington State have very high seatbelt compliance rates.  In 2012, studies shows that Washingtonians had the highest seatbelt compliance rate in the nation at 97.5%! 
Over time, those numbers have started to decline.  In some parts of the state, we are seeing a relatively low compliance rate.  Urban areas, such as Snohomish County are still seeing high compliance (over 95%).  Rural areas are where we are seeing less compliance. 

May 14th-June 3rd marks our annual Click it or Ticket campaign.  You may have seen billboards or heard radio ads for this campaign.  This campaign is perfectly timed to launch our buys summer driving season and remind everyone that passenger safety is a priority.  As we enter the 100 deadliest days of summer on our roadways, your seatbelt very likely could save your life. 

Last week, a friend posted a picture on Facebook of a new "Seatbelt Pillow" that attaches to the seatbelt and hopefully keeps the occupant from slumping over while sleeping in the car.  She was asking if it was something she should try for her children.   I immediately chimed in that, generally speaking, seatbelt add-ons are not approved devices and can cause your seatbelt to not function properly.  It is unlikely her car manufacturer tested this aftermarket device in their crash tests.   She mentioned that her child often falls asleep and slumps over and is not longer positioned correctly.  This can be a big problem for parents.  My response to this is that if your child cannot ride in the properly seated position, they should still be in a 5 point harness system.  If the child is too large for 5 point child seats, there are some other options out there that may help.  Otherwise, your child should be kept awake during any car rides.  

Child passenger safety remains confusing for many parents and transporters of children.  There are many laws and recommendations out there, often they are mixed up and people are unsure what they need to do to keep their smallest passengers safe.  We can help! If you need assistance determining the proper car seat or restraint system for your child, please contact us.  We can also teach you to properly install your restraint device.  3 out of 4 people have car seats incorrectly installed in their car.  If you need assistance, click the "Child car seats" tab on our website and fill out a contact form.  We will contact you for an appointment. 


Washington Seatbelt Law
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.688
]]><![CDATA[100 Deadly Days of Summer are Upon Us]]>Thu, 29 Jun 2017 17:56:51 GMThttp://snocotargetzero.org/blog/100-deadly-days-of-summer-are-upon-usGraduation Season is upon us, and with that comes the 100 deadly days of summer.  The deadliest days on our nations roads for adults, but especially teens. 
Teens love their freedom, but this doesn't mean that their freedom equals recklessness.  Parents actively talking to their teens about safe driving helps drive the message home.  I often hear from parents that Washington's graduated licensing laws are too restrictive and create a hardship, so they knowingly allow their teens to violate the graduated licensing laws.  Why are these laws in place?  They help keep teens focused on the road.  Passengers are often a huge distraction for teen drivers, and one moment of inattention can have deadly consequences. 
This summer, when you are laying out the ground rules for your teens about their summer, include a conversation about safe driving.  Remind them to put their phones away - better yet - turn them off!  Remind them that seatbelts are NOT optional.  All occupants of the vehicle must be properly restrained before the vehicle moves.  Remind them that if occupants are being disruptive, that they need to safely pull over and tell their friends/family members that they need to concentrate on driving.  Remind them that they are in control of that vehicle and the responsibility is great. 

Visit the National Safety Council website for more tips and information.  And have a safe summer!
http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSC-Initiatives/Pages/teen-driving.aspx


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]]><![CDATA[Can My Kid Sit in the Front Seat?]]>Tue, 06 Jun 2017 22:29:17 GMThttp://snocotargetzero.org/blog/can-my-kid-sit-in-the-front-seatAt a recent event, I was struck by how many questions were asked about child restraint laws in Washington.   Many parents were confused on Washington law, and the same questions were asked throughout the day.   The laws can seem confusing, especially when mixing in laws and recommendations for particular types of child restraints.   The biggest questions were related to whether or not children could ride in the front seat of the car. 

Q: Can my child ride in the front seat of the car?

A: Not until they have reached their 13th birthday.  There are some exceptions.  If your car only has 2 seats, such
as a sports car or pickup truck, the child can sit in the front.   Otherwise, all children under the age 13 should be in the back seat. 

Q: But I have 3 kids, and my back seat will only accommodate 2 car seats, and there is no room for my third child.   What should I do?

A:  In this case, check your vehicle manual and car seat manual to ensure all car seats are installed properly.  You may be able to change the configuration of car seats to accommodate fitting another human.    If you cannot make these adjustments, generally speaking, the oldest or largest child would go in the front seat.   Your car may automatically disable the air bag, or you may have to do it manually.  Follow the vehicle manuals instructions related to your front airbag.  It is not ideal to have ANY children in the front seat at all, so if possible, avoid this situation. 

Q: I thought my kid was tall enough to sit in the front seat, so he doesn’t have to be 13.

A: This is incorrect. The law specifically requires the child has reached their 13th birthday.  People often confuse the height/weight requirements for a child restraint (car seat/booster seat) for the ability to sit in the front seat.   The height/weight restrictions only apply to whether or not the child is required to be in a child restraint system. 

Q: I don’t understand why my child can’t sit in the front.  Why?

A: The front seats are statistically the most dangerous seating positions in the car.  Couple this with a child’s physical stature and internal development, and the danger increases.  Their bodies are too small to absorb the very strong crash forces from the front of the car.  Additionally, the airbag poses additional risk. The airbag deploys at approximately 124 miles per hour.  A child sitting in the front is not positioned correctly for the airbag to help – the child can hit the airbag at the incorrect place on their body and cause severe internal injuries. 

Q: I heard a kid can suffocate from the airbag in the front seat, does that really happen?

A: I’ve never heard of this actually happening – it seems to be more urban legend than anything.  The bag inflates for a short amount of time, and once the crash is over, deflates and hangs low.  I suppose it’s possible if a child slipped through restraints and wound up underneath the deflated airbag, suffocation would be a possibility. 
If you have questions about child vehicle safety, contact your local police department non-emergency number, or www.safekids.org.   Many police departments have Certified Car Seat Technicians that can help you. 

]]><![CDATA[ Distracted Driving - Modeling Driving Behavior for your Teens]]>Tue, 14 Feb 2017 21:36:07 GMThttp://snocotargetzero.org/blog/distracted-driving-modeling-driving-behavior-for-your-teens As we continue our discussion on distracted driving, the WTSC has released a study related to the dangerously increasing trend of distracted driving.   The study showed that in 2015, Washington driving fatalities increased by 19%.  Distracted driving fatalities increased 32%. 

The study found that people are distracted by various things while driving, but the largest distraction by far, is cell phones.  This trend is alarming. Unlike other distractions such as eating, it mentally distracts you as a driver and takes your eyes off the road longer.  The sharp increase in these crashes and fatalities should be a sobering reminder to all drivers to put down their phones.  “Inattention blindness” is particularly fatal. 

When teaching about distracted driving in schools, I talk to students about speaking up when they see dangerous behaviors.  About 2/3 of the kids in the classes I teach report that their PARENTS engage in texting and driving or other distracted driving behaviors while preaching against these behaviors to their kids.  The common excuse given to the teens by parents is “I’m an experienced driver, and you’re not” implying that their driving experience precludes them from following the law.  This approach backfires as parents are not modeling appropriate behavior for their teens.  Studies have shown that it doesn’t matter the drivers experience, these distractions are deadly across any age group.

There are currently bills being argued in the legislature to sharply increase the penalties for distracted driving.  If successful, nearly all use of cellular devices by a driver will have stiff penalties.  Aggressive anti-distracted driving campaigns are being launched to try to change the driving culture and reduce these crashes from happening.  Be part of the culture change: Don't engage in distracted driving behaviors.  Your life and the lives of fellow drivers depend on it. 

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Tips for drivers:

Put your phone somewhere you can’t see it while driving, if you can’t turn it off, make it unavailable to you.

Encourage teens to turn off their phones completely while driving. 

Discuss distracted driving as a family and model appropriate behaviors for your kids. 

]]><![CDATA[Push For Tougher Distracted Driving Laws in Washington]]>Wed, 04 Jan 2017 00:17:26 GMThttp://snocotargetzero.org/blog/push-for-tougher-distracted-driving-laws-in-washingtonDistracted Driving is a huge problem nationwide, with thousands of deaths attributed to distractions each year.  In Snohomish County in 2015, there were 2049 reported crashes involving distracted drivers.  There were 5 fatalities and 28 serious injury crashes attributed to distracted driving.  This number is sharply increasing as cell phones and other devices become a part of mainstream culture.  Distracted driving crashes are as deadly as DUI crashes - the result is nearly the same.  Glancing away from the road to read a text takes an average of 5 seconds.  At freeway speeds, you travel the length of a football field in that few seconds.  Studies show the distraction actually lasts longer than those initial few seconds.  Historically, new drivers are taught 2-3 car length following distance is safe.  In these conditions, that is not nearly enough time to stop and the results are deadly.  

Today, the Seattle Times published a comprehensive article on where lawmakers in our state want to take distracted driving laws including stories from victims of these crashes. 

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/citing-rise-in-distracted-driving-deaths-washington-lawmakers-may-toughen-smartphone-laws/


]]><![CDATA[Welcome!]]>Wed, 12 Oct 2016 23:23:18 GMThttp://snocotargetzero.org/blog/welcomeWelcome to our new website and blog! 

Here we will answer your questions about traffic safety and the Target Zero Program.  This program is an important part of our community, and we need you to help us reach our goal of zero deaths and serious injuries by 2030!


Have a traffic safety related question?  Fill out our "Contact" form and we will post the answer to your questions here. 


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