2012 fatalities on upward trend, but likely to be less than 200
Brent Jennings, PE
Highway Safety Manager
As we see the end of 2012 on the horizon, I am often asked how Idaho is doing with regard to fatalities on our roadways.
In 2012, Idaho started out rough, but in the last two months we have realized some gains. In 2011, Idaho experienced a record-low fatality number of 167. Given that our state had not been below 200 since 1956, this was great news indeed.
Although 2012 will not see fatalities less than 167, our goal is to find ourselves below 200. Doing so continues the downward trend of our five-year average. Rather than be discouraged, please join me in celebrating the gains that continue to be made as we move onward Toward Zero Deaths.
Alive at 25
As coordinator for the Alive at 25 program, I am excited to work with law enforcement officers who dedicate overtime hours presenting this program. These officers are making great progress toward raising traffic safety awareness for young adults (ages 15-24).
Below are two e-mails from instructors on the classes:
Officer Thomas Gearrey, from the Nampa Police Department, reported this month on an attendee who recently completed a class:
”Mark rides a motorcycle and prior to the class did not wear a helmet, but does now after facts presented during the class. Mark was hit by a truck and thrown from his motorcycle. After the impact, Mark hit his head hard on the ground. Mark believes that if he had not been wearing his helmet, he might not have walked away with only the bumps and bruises sustained. Mark thanked me for changing his mindset about being safe . . . because without his helmet, he probably would not be here.”
Sgt. John Gonzales, from the Meridian Police Department, forwarded on a recent e-mail he received.
“You recently held one of your Alive at 25 classes. One of Bobby’s friends was in the class (he had been issued a seat belt ticket since Bobby’s accident). I spoke with him about the class. He said it was very graphic and showed some very vivid examples of what happens when people don’t wear their seat belts and engage in other risky behaviors. He definitely is wearing his seat belt now. Thank you for saving another kids’ life.”
— Sheri and Duke“After talking with the family, I had to take a pause and reflect on the reason I do what I do and how my recent focus has been on youth safety.”
We often wonder if traffic safety presentations work, because we do not often hear responses. It is a powerful message and I thank you to all Alive at 25 instructors for your presentations of Alive at 25.
— Margaret Goertz
Pedestrian & bicyclist safety program
Congratulations to our partner agencies for completing the “Pedestrian and Bicyclist Law Enforcement Training” held in Northern Idaho. Participating agencies included Kootenai County Sheriff, Post Falls Police, Nez Perce Tribe Police, and Coeur d’Alene Police. These agencies join our partners from Nampa, Rexburg, McCall and Boise police who are now eligible to receive funding for educational and mobilization efforts.
Idaho crash data for 2009-2011 indicates the majority of crashes involving pedestrians (82 percent) and bicyclists (87 percent) occur on urban roadways with the most occurring in the following five counties: Ada, Canyon, Bannock, Kootenai, and Twin Falls.
Pedestrian and bicyclist safety can be perceived as a low priority, but if we are going to eliminate deaths on Idaho’s roads … every life counts toward Zero Deaths. For more information contact Donna Vasquez at (208)334-8102 or at donna.vasquez@itd.idaho.gov
Published 11-9-2012