'See me AZ'

This is the name for a new campaign to reduce pedestrian and bicyclist deaths on the streets of metropolitan Phoenix. As KTAR reported, “ 'See Me AZ' aims to educate people on research that indicates most crashes occur when drivers, cyclists or pedestrians don’t see each other."

I'm not hopeful.

However it's counted, Phoenix and Arizona rank high among the most deadly places for pedestrians. Fifth worst in the nation in 2018, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Deaths totaled 106 for the first six months of 2020 (Colorado 39; Washington 47). The federal Traffic Safety Administration ranked us fourth worst in 2018. A compilation by the Arizona Republic found a stunning 1,202 pedestrians killed by motorists between 2014 and 2019.

From the late 1940s onward, Phoenix streets were widened, especially to move vehicles quickly out of downtown (collateral damage was the loss of thousands of real shade trees). McDowell Road, shown above in the 1960s, is now two lanes or wider. This remains one of the scariest avenues for pedestrians or watchful drivers, especially between 56th Street and 24th Street, where the night swallows the inadequate illumination from too few street lamps.

The result today is that metropolitan Phoenix is a collection of real-estate ventures connected by wide highways called "city streets." Where Thomas Road crosses Central, it's about twice as wide as a major downtown street in Seattle. The "walk" signal lasts barely long enough to accommodate those wishing to cross and drivers frequently turn without looking. On any given day or hour, the Phoenix Fire online regional dispatch log shows "962 w. pedestrian" (a 962 is the radio code for auto collision with injuries).

The city has changed over recent decades, too. More people are walking than before. Jaywalking is common and pedestrians don't have a sense of how fast a vehicle is moving. Drivers are less attentive, whether because they feel high and mighty on jacked-up pickups or SUVs, or they are made less attentive because of the width of the major arteries.

One sign of the recklessness at which people drive is the daily or multiple-times-daily vehicle colliding with a light-rail train (WBIYB) or getting stuck on the tracks. Not only does this carry the chance for serious injuries, but it stymies the system, wrecking on-time performance. It's quite a feat to jump the concrete berm and hit a train, and the surest sign of madness by drivers.

Pedestrian 962s were among the most severe trauma calls I responded to during my time as an EMT in the 1970s. I can't imagine how much worse they are today.

It's important to note that the Phoenix City Council voted down a Vision Zero plan in 2019. Adopted by more than 40 cities — including Tempe — Vision Zero is a series of concrete measures localities can take to slow traffic, improve signage and lighting at crosswalks, install protected bike lanes, etc. It sets measurable and transparent goals to reduce deaths and injuries.

So we're basically left with an ad campaign. It reminds me of the clean-air campaigns by the county — even as freeway construction and sprawl continue, thus making cleaner air impossible.

I see you. It's hypocrisy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[AzRebel]

It's all about physics.

Automobile 3,000+ lbs.

Human 175+ lbs.

28% of Americans are scientifically literate.

72% are potentially hood ornaments.

[Kevin in Preskitt]

"See Me AZ" also reminds me of the water conservation campaigns in Phoenix and across Arizona. Billed as efforts toward sustainability and environmental protection, the real intention is for existing residents to give up their cooling lawns, trees, and swimming pools so that millions more newcomers can cram into our state. Large landholders and developers are among the few who see any benefit from the maddening population growth.

[Mark D Sanchez]

So true, Jon.
Lip service is so much easier than real action.
Thanks for nothing, Arizona.

[Mike Doughty]

U hit it on the head. Most pedestrians are injured thanks to the ubiquitous Ca. Stop that you see when turning right . Reminds me of the cop who stopped a motorist for coasting through a stop before making a right hand turn When told why he was getting a ticket he said “What is the difference.Slow down or 🛑. The cop started beating him with his nightstick and said “Do you want me to stop or slow down”😁😁
The bicycle lanes are dangerous because they are not separated from streets.Anybody who rides in the bicycle lane is asking for it .

[Joe Schallan]

Arizona drivers are often simply out to lunch. Of course they don't see pedestrians. We're lucky if they can successfully point the car down the road. I'd be tempted to attribute the mental fog to heat, but then there is this:

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/average-iq-by-state

which suggests that Arizona has such crap drivers because in aggregate they're dumber than a bag of hammers.

[AzRebel]

Joe, you need to apologize to all bags of hammers. That was uncalled for.

[AZ Ranteur]

One reason for inattentive drivers here is because with wide roads and good weather you can make a ton of mistakes with mo bad consequences here. Try going “a little out of your lane” in a tight east coast road or slamming on the breaks last minute in rainy Seattle. So drivers quickly adopt terrible driving habits here. And the car is king. I’ll never understand how a driver can hit a pedestrian and not get cited, but it happens all the time here.