With the end of daylight-saving time Sunday, darkness is suddenly descending on us a lot sooner in the afternoon.
But just because it’s getting dark an hour earlier doesn’t mean that folks are suddenly going to stop using crosswalks.
Statistics released last week suggest that the most likely time of the year for Washington pedestrians to be hit by a car is October to January.
Of the 832 pedestrian fatalities recorded in the state over the past 10 years, 292 of them, or about 35 percent, occurred between October and January, said Paula Reeves, the state’s bicycle and pedestrian program manager.
“Most accidents involving pedestrians occur in urban areas where people are crossing streets to get to their bus stop, office, shopping or home,” Reeves said. “We’re asking drivers to pay special attention to pedestrians in populated and congested areas.”
In addition to the worst time of year, the worst time of day for pedestrians is evening hours from 4 to 9 p.m., said Travis Phelps, a Department of Transportation spokesman.
Here in Snohomish County, the statistics are similar where 61 of 170 pedestrian-car accidents that occurred in 2000-03 happened in October, November and December. Thirty of those 61, or 39 percent, happened in the evening hours.
Drivers, please mind the crosswalk and, pedestrians, look both ways before crossing.
Winter approaching
Shorter nights and cold weather means snow could fall at any time at higher elevations.
So studded tires are again allowed (but not encouraged) on state highways, and the state’s mountain pass hotline is working again.
Starting today, the state allows studded tires but prefers that drivers use other winter tires that are just as good but less destructive to the road. Check out alternative winter tire options at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter.
Pass reports throughout the state begin today as well. Drivers can get information on Stevens Pass and other mountain highways online at www.wsdot. wa.gov/traffic/passes or by phone by calling 800-695-ROAD or 511.
Another Broadway exit fix
Question: I just read your article on the Broadway exit slowdown that will be fixed in a couple of years. I believe something could be done right now to alleviate the problem.
As you drive north on I-5, there is a sign that says Broadway exit one mile. Because of the curvature of the road you can’t tell at that point that the left lane is an “exit only” lane. When you continue around the curve you only have a half-mile to exit once you see the exit only sign.
Putting an exit only sign at the one-mile exit would at least tell people unfamiliar to the area to move over.
Andy Lepley, Everett
Answer: The left side exit from northbound I-5 to Broadway in Everett is unusual. During the past few years we added freeway signs and improved pavement stripes and markings to alert drivers to the exit.
As you and others have suggested, we need to do more. We are now working with the City of Everett to add a yellow-backed exit only message to the green exit sign located one mile ahead of the Broadway exit.
Darrel Whyte, engineer, state Department of Transportation
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