The Inequity of the Pursuit of Equity Over Public Safety.
Target Zero, Vision Zero
Washington state's Target Zero is a Public Safety paradigm shift, patterned after Vision Zero. It's a plan with the goal to reduce the number of traffic deaths and serious injuries on Washington's roadways to zero by the year 2030. It also serves as the state's Strategic Highway Safety Plan. Target Zero is way off target, the latest victim of the of the anti law enforcement movement.
For decades, Washington's Traffic Safety Commission had long recognized that combating impaired driving is a Public Safety imperative. A decade ago it made significant progress reporting: While deaths and serious injuries from impaired driving both declined by 15 percent during 2009-2011 compared with 2006-2008, impaired driving continues to be the main factor in fatal collisions in Washington.
Most of the decline was then attributed to aggressive campaigns to change the public perception of the acceptability and consequences of drinking and driving, coupled with tougher laws, including the 2007 felony DUI law, and strict penalties imposed for drivers under age 21 who drink and drive. "Despite these efforts, impaired driving remains a challenging issue for both Washington and the nation" - WTSC impaired driving strategic plan
Vision Zero, is a Public Safety Paradigm Shift. The shift? From considering traffic deaths and severe injuries as inevitable accidents and simply side effects of modern life to a notion that all these tragedies are preventable by taking a proactive, preventative approach that prioritizes traffic safety as a public health issue.
First implemented in Sweden in the 1990s, Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.
Target Zero Off Target
Alex Didion, KING 5 Staff reports thatTraffic deaths in Washington state hit 33-year high in 2023 citing data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) indicating that there were 810 traffic fatalities last year, a 10% increase from 2022.
 |
| Target Zero Off Target - Increase in Vehicle Deaths Coincides With Anti Law Enforcement Movement |
That means Washington State's Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Target Zero is not yielding the desired results - quite the opposite. Target Zero's goal is to reduce the number of traffic deaths and serious injuries on Washington's roadways to zero by the year 2030. It also serves as the state's Strategic Highway Safety Plan.
According to WTSC director Shelly Baldwin. “810 is not just a shocking statistic. Every number represents a life lost. A lost family member. A lost co-worker. A lost friend. The people who mourn have had their lives changed forever." Baldwin the goes on to say: "I hold them in my heart as I ask drivers to take the actions we know save lives. Drive sober. Be patient. Stay focused. Buckle up.”
Shelly Baldwin is the first woman appointed by Governor Jay Inslee, to head the Washington Traffic Safety Commission in it's 50+ year history. We have reached out to the Traffic Safety Commission to understand why Target Zero is off target and what is being done to reverse the trend. Multiple attempts to reach Washington State's Attorney General Communications Director Brionna Aho have not been fruitful.
Didion also reports that "officials previously identified the 'fatal four' common causes of traffic crashes and deaths as impairment, distraction, speeding and not wearing seat belts."
Washington's rules of the road, including laws on texting and driving are outlined in Title 46, Chapter 61 of the RCW. In the state of Washington, you cannot use a hand-held personal electronic device (such as a cell phone) when driving. To be clear, “driving” includes when you are stopped at a traffic light! You may use a hands-free device to make a phone call. But otherwise, no texting, calling, or watching Netflix.
The NE Lake Road and NE Everett Street Intersection Improvement Project at the City of Camas sitting on a state highway is another indicator. According to the city's website the "first phase of the project included an alternatives analysis, surveying, a geotechnical investigation, a transportation analysis, an environmental analysis, conceptual designs, and stakeholder and community outreach." The finished product is advertised through signage and otherwise, as a traditional roundabout. It's not. It's more like trying to design a better mousetrap, as it violates the first law of roundabouts; Thou should only drive counterclockwise.
PBOT addresses street safety in a section entitled Actions and performance measures: "Safe speeds, slow people driving to reduce injuries.
Slowing down people driving reduces crashes and their severity. People who drive slower can stop more quickly to avoid a crash. Driving more slowly also reduces the chance of injury or death when crashes occur."- PBOT
But 'performance measures' used by PBOT herein is a misnomer. Performance measures are specific and used to hold people accountable: A performance measure is a numeric description and results of an agency's work. Performance measures are based on data and tell a story about whether an agency or activity is achieving its objectives, and if progress is being made toward achieving policy or organizational goals. Millicent Williams, director of PBOT, rejoined PBOT in the summer of 2023 after managing PBOT’s Capital Delivery division from 2017 to 2020, then serving as PBOT Deputy Director until May 2021. After her years at PBOT, Millicent served as Otak’s Oregon/SW Washington Regional Director for the Public Sector and as Corporate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Any of Target Zero initiative gains were erased as early as 2010 when the anti law enforcement movement first started, increased during the Ferguson riots and gained strength in 2020 during the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd and the associated violent protests.
Didion also reports that "officials previously identified the 'fatal four' common causes of traffic crashes and deaths as impairment, distraction, speeding and not wearing seat belts."
Washington's rules of the road, including laws on texting and driving are outlined in Title 46, Chapter 61 of the RCW. In the state of Washington, you cannot use a hand-held personal electronic device (such as a cell phone) when driving. To be clear, “driving” includes when you are stopped at a traffic light! You may use a hands-free device to make a phone call. But otherwise, no texting, calling, or watching Netflix.
The NE Lake Road and NE Everett Street Intersection Improvement Project at the City of Camas sitting on a state highway is another indicator. According to the city's website the "first phase of the project included an alternatives analysis, surveying, a geotechnical investigation, a transportation analysis, an environmental analysis, conceptual designs, and stakeholder and community outreach." The finished product is advertised through signage and otherwise, as a traditional roundabout. It's not. It's more like trying to design a better mousetrap, as it violates the first law of roundabouts; Thou should only drive counterclockwise.
City of Portland's Version of Vision Zero
The City of Portland's Portland Bureau of Transportation, like Washington'sWTSC,is working to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries through its Vision Zero program and commitment: "No person should die or be incapacitated from simply going about their day."
PBOT addresses street safety in a section entitled Actions and performance measures: "Safe speeds, slow people driving to reduce injuries.
Slowing down people driving reduces crashes and their severity. People who drive slower can stop more quickly to avoid a crash. Driving more slowly also reduces the chance of injury or death when crashes occur."- PBOT
 |
| From City of Portland's Vision Zero Initiative |
Portland's Vision Zero Off Target
But 'performance measures' used by PBOT herein is a misnomer. Performance measures are specific and used to hold people accountable: A performance measure is a numeric description and results of an agency's work. Performance measures are based on data and tell a story about whether an agency or activity is achieving its objectives, and if progress is being made toward achieving policy or organizational goals. Millicent Williams, director of PBOT, rejoined PBOT in the summer of 2023 after managing PBOT’s Capital Delivery division from 2017 to 2020, then serving as PBOT Deputy Director until May 2021. After her years at PBOT, Millicent served as Otak’s Oregon/SW Washington Regional Director for the Public Sector and as Corporate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Then there is Portland's culture.A year ago, Attorney John DiLorenzo of Davis Wright Tremaine, following the aftermath of Multnomah County’s suspended proposal to pass out fentanyl smoking supplies, he called on the City of Portland to dissolve the Joint Office of Homeless Services. DiLorenzo previously said the county had spent millions of dollars passing out tents and tarps, only for the city to spend nearly the same amount to pick them up and throw them away. He led a lawsuit against the City of Portland to keep tents off sidewalks – claiming that blocking the pathways violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Portlanders with disabilities eventually reached a deal with the city. He said the county’s work to pass out fentanyl smoking supplies goes against that agreement.
The City of Vancouver's Version of Vision Zero
Right next to Portland, accross the Columbia River is the City of Vancouver. Looking to the future, Vancouver is also trying to reduce the number of traffic deaths and serious injuries through its recently unveiled Transportation System Plan (TSP.) The TSP was approved and adopted by Vancouver City Council on the 8th of January 2024. According to the TSP website "Following extensive planning and community engagement, we’ve developed a new Transportation System Plan that will prioritize how we invest in a safe, reliable and comfortable transportation system over the next 20 years."Vision Zero and Culture
Vision Zero is not a slogan, but a Paradigm Shift: a culture that values human life. Where culture is defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to generation. Culture has been called "the way of life for an entire society." As such, it includes codes of manners, dress, symbols language, religion, rituals, art.
Culture is a form of social control based on shared norms and values that set expectations about appropriate attitudes and behavior for members of the group.
Signs of cultural deterioration are the anti law enforcement movement, the increased disregard for basic safety rules of the road, such as stopping at a stop sign, failure to yield, failure to use turn signals, failure to use pedestrian lanes, cyclists using winding narrow roads without bike lanes, children on electric scooters racing on public streets and so on.
An example of formal social control is passing a law against driving under the influence. If someone breaks that law, the person is charged AND convicted. Recently, dozens of people ransack NW Portland warehouse afterShannon Clark, posted a ‘free’ sign outside. Clark was arrested on aggravated burglary. Prosecutors declined to file charges, rendering the law ineffective.
A year ago, KOIN reported: "‘Fearing for our safety’: Portland street racing continues to run rampant despite police mission". In what appears to be a tradition, earlier this week KOIN wrote: "Street racers who took over an intersection not far from Portland International Airport also peppered gunfire and launched fireworks — including one that landed on the roof of a business — late Saturday night. We have asked Director Millicent Williams for comment.
The difference between the culture we say we want and the culture we enable is the Belief- Action Gap Index, aka cognitive dissonance index - the gap between what the organization says it values, versus its action. You have to walk the talk.
Culture is a form of social control based on shared norms and values that set expectations about appropriate attitudes and behavior for members of the group.
Signs of cultural deterioration are the anti law enforcement movement, the increased disregard for basic safety rules of the road, such as stopping at a stop sign, failure to yield, failure to use turn signals, failure to use pedestrian lanes, cyclists using winding narrow roads without bike lanes, children on electric scooters racing on public streets and so on.
An example of formal social control is passing a law against driving under the influence. If someone breaks that law, the person is charged AND convicted. Recently, dozens of people ransack NW Portland warehouse afterShannon Clark, posted a ‘free’ sign outside. Clark was arrested on aggravated burglary. Prosecutors declined to file charges, rendering the law ineffective.
A year ago, KOIN reported: "‘Fearing for our safety’: Portland street racing continues to run rampant despite police mission". In what appears to be a tradition, earlier this week KOIN wrote: "Street racers who took over an intersection not far from Portland International Airport also peppered gunfire and launched fireworks — including one that landed on the roof of a business — late Saturday night. We have asked Director Millicent Williams for comment.
The difference between the culture we say we want and the culture we enable is the Belief- Action Gap Index, aka cognitive dissonance index - the gap between what the organization says it values, versus its action. You have to walk the talk.
DAVE - A Simplified Vision Zero Strategy
Public safety is a function of Design, Awareness, Visibility and Engagement (DAVE, where Visibility includes motorists' road, pedestrian and signage, visibility and law enforcement personnel. Even DAVE relies heavily in culture as a form of social conttol.Conclusion
WTSC director Shelly Baldwin statement
"Drive sober. Be patient. Stay focused. Buckle up," is very telling. Instead of accepting any responsibility for Target Zero being off target Baldwin blames the driver. According to Vision Zero, communities that want to succeed at Vision Zero need to acknowledge that business as usual is not enough and that systemic changes are needed to make meaningful progress.
Washington State's TrafficZero is not working. Neither is Portland's Vision Zero program. Elected officials must decide how much stock to put on human life. They cannot sraddle the fence: either they speak out against the anti law enforcement movement or turn the Vision One initiative into a No Vision one.
 |
| https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/george-floyd-protests-06-14-20/index.html |
RELATED
#PBOT's #VisionZero Gone Blind
#Portland police struggle to stop dangerous street takeovers: ‘They’re growing more bold by the day’
#Portland police struggle to stop dangerous street takeovers: ‘They’re growing more bold by the day’
Microsoft quietly lays off a controversial team following backlash
The trillion-dollar tech company just made a major change to its workplace that follows a recent trend
Microsoft's market cap is more than 3 times Washington state's GDP, yet it realized
The Inequity of the Pursuit of Equity Over Public Safety.
The Inequity of the Pursuit of Equity Over Public Safety.
Microsoft lays off DEI team
No comments:
Post a Comment