The SunBreak » safety

Just Like at Gawker, Commenter Rewrites Seattle Times Headline on Crime

Michael van Baker — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 16:07:36 +0000

Overnight, a commenter on a story about the violent crime rate in downtown Seattle changed the headline for everyone. In a follow-on story to the shooting of a Metro bus driver, the Times supported the Downtown Seattle Association's contention that crime is getting worse, before noting that the data say no, same old, same old.

Will Road Rage in Sleepy West Seattle Fuel Drive for Street Safety?

Michael van Baker — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 18:21:02 +0000

Seattle police are, this morning, on the hunt for a woman who hit a 24-year-old man with her car, near the 9400 block of 11th Avenue Southwest in West Seattle. Police say it was intentional, and they know who she is. A little over a week ago, West Seattle Greenways co-founder Jake Vanderplas was also the victim of an intentional hit-and-run.

Civil Engineers Give Washington a “C” on Infrastructure Report Card

Michael van Baker — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:30:57 +0000

Washington's D+ subjects were roads and transit, even though, as the ASCE's Shane Binder was quick to clarify, the state has very good track record in terms of safety -- especially through its sustained reduction of highway fatalities -- and a very good track record for accountability on its projects. Transit ridership, too, is far above the national average.

Recent DUI Body Count Has State Legislature Reviving Stalled Bill

Michael van Baker — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:20:45 +0000

Since 2007, about 200 people per year have been killed statewide in "impaired ability" collisions. 213 people killed in 2007, 175 people buried in 2011. Generally, twice the number of total House members, for comparison.

Legislature Taking Another Look at Safer, Slower Speeds on City Streets

Michael van Baker — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:17:19 +0000

The Neighborhood Safe Streets bill is back, says KIRO Radio's Kim Shepard, saying there's a "big push" to get it voted on this legislative session. The bill would allow municipalities across the state to lower speed limits on city roads to as slow as 20 mph without commissioning expensive traffic studies. As the bill's title indicates, the focus is on neighborhood pedestrian safety.

Seattle’s Worst Bridges are Part of $1.8-Billion Maintenance Backlog

Michael van Baker — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:02:41 +0000

The single most salient factor in a low rating, in Seattle, is age. 62 bridges are more than 60 years old, with a replacement cost that SDOT estimates at $1.5 billion. Another 20 middle-aged bridges are running short on time as well. But since 2007, the bridge maintenance budget -- inadequate to begin with -- has plunged by more than $400 million.