King County Metro launches 'Walk safe' pedestrian awareness campaign

Seattle’s King County Metro leaders and transit drivers are distributing “Walk safe” pedestrian safety tip cards as part of the agency’s campaign, “Safety Gets Us All Home.” Metro’s overall goal is to reduce the number of collisions to zero, and chief among them, eliminate pedestrian collisions.

“We care about our community and want everyone to get home safely, and our goal is zero pedestrian collisions. Each of Metro’s nearly 3,000 transit drivers is focused and vigilant, working to avoid pedestrian accidents every day,” said King County Metro GM Rob Gannon. “We hope our awareness campaign helps us reach our zero-collision goal.”

Pedestrian impairment and driver distraction are the largest contributing factors in pedestrian collisions, according to the state Traffic Safety Commission’s Pedestrian Safety Advisory Council reports. Metro serves on the advisory council alongside the City of Seattle, police departments across the state, and pedestrian advocates from Feet First. Pedestrian safety is a priority in the state’s Target Zero and the City of Seattle’s Vision Zero campaigns.

“We don’t want anyone to have to receive that phone call, to learn that their loved one has been hurt or killed while walking. That’s why we are all focused on preventing injuries and saving lives wherever and whenever we can. Metro’s efforts to raise awareness among drivers and pedestrians can help us look out for each other to reach Target Zero,” said Washington State Traffic Safety Commission Director Darrin Grondel.

Tip cards, posters, and bus ads will remind riders not to chase buses, to look and listen before crossing streets, to become more visible to drivers when crossing in the dark, and to cross the street only after their bus leaves the bus zone.

Several pedestrian injuries occur each year when riders chase after a bus. Metro continues working to raise awareness of the dangers of running alongside a moving bus, and hopes that recent and planned increases in transit service help riders make the decision to let a bus go and wait for the next one.