Talk about raising the bar. How will the Washington State Patrol ever be able to top its no-fatalities record in 2004 for East Snohomish County roads? That’s the thing about perfection – you start to expect it year after year. Unfortunately, that’s probably not realistic when it comes to eliminating traffic deaths.
That won’t stop us from celebrating last year’s victory, though. Or from praising the State Patrol’s new approach to reporting crashes to top management and focusing efforts in problem areas.
Every workplace has its “new programs” worthy of a Dilbert comic strip or two – that genius plan a manager with something to prove concocts that does little more than institute a new line of jargon to memorize. But few work programs stand to impact so many people on a life and death basis. Clearly, the patrol’s efforts to curb the problems that have plagued notorious death-traps, such as U.S. 2 and Highway 522, are working.
In this case it wasn’t road improvements or the hiring of more troopers to patrol the 133 miles of highway in that part of the Patrol’s Northwest District that made the difference. It was the increase in the number of stops for drunken drivers, speeders and seat-belt violators. That was the key to the drop in fatalities, trooper Lance Ramsay told a Herald reporter.
It goes back a few years ago when the patrol decided that managers would be responsible for reporting collision statistics to their superiors. Everyone started taking responsibility for the results and sharing a stake in the number of crashes on our roads, not just the troopers who drive them day in and day out.
Was it luck that kept 2004’s tragedy statistics at a possible all-time low? Probably not. A small dip in fatal crashes could have been attributed to fortune, the weather or you name it, but a perfect score indicates something else – focus and dedication.
Professionals who deal with traffic crashes and their statistics are often quick to point out that there’s really no such thing as an accident. Crashes are the result of someone making a stupid decision or an error in judgment. They don’t just happen by chance. If that’s true, then the elimination of crashes can’t be an accident either. They are avoided because drivers make wise decisions and because troopers care enough to hold those who don’t accountable.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
