35th SW safety: Speeder scorecard

| High Point | Safety | West Seattle news

A follow-up to last week’s pedestrian-safety rally at 35th/Juneau in High Point (WSB coverage here and here): One of the organizers, Denise Sharify from Neighborhood House, got word from SDOT about results of extra police patrols on 35th that day (photo above) and the following two days: 30 tickets were issued during the 10/7 rally, and 61 more – 45 of them for speeding – on 10/8 and 10/9, by four officers working 35th between Willow and Juneau, with the top ticketed speed listed as 55 in a 35 zone. As the precinct has reminded us before, this is a regular spot for patrols, too.

JB October 15, 2008 (10:06 am)

It would be really nice if they patrolled Fauntleroy, especially the Graham-Juneau area. People drive so fast its crazy! It really only a matter of time before tragedy strikes that area.

Scott October 15, 2008 (10:07 am)

Now if they could only catch the motorcyclist that revs up to about 70 at 4:00 AM many mornings…

M October 15, 2008 (10:37 am)

(suspected ad spam deleted)

old timer October 15, 2008 (10:49 am)

“These guys are good they got me off a speeding ticket and I didn’t even have to go to court.”

Of the three interlocking principles that guide most of America today;
Me first,
Where’s mine,
Up yours,
I’s say that “M” is operating on the the ‘up yours’ portion of the philosophy.
Thanks for sppeding “M”, and thanks too for your contribution to coommunity.

old timer October 15, 2008 (10:51 am)

“These guys are good they got me off a speeding ticket and I didn’t even have to go to court.”

Of the three interlocking principles that guide most of America today;
Me first,
Where’s mine,
Up yours,
I’s say that “M” is operating on the the ‘up yours’ portion of the philosophy.
Thanks for speeding “M”, and thanks too for your contribution to community.

flipjack October 15, 2008 (10:59 am)

Speeding is not the problem.. It’s people who don’t pay attention to how they are driving by talking on cell phones and distractions of other gadgets and radios and doing make up or eating.
I mean come on! 35 miles per hour on the West Seattle bridge? It’s just way to slow. I’d say at least 40 on 35th would be fine and at least 50 mph on the whole bridge.
Yeah, we need more speed traps that will solve the problem.

cruiser October 15, 2008 (11:02 am)

Oldtimer,

That is the best post,I mean THE BEST post I’ve read here in the last nearly three years.

Thank you

Mollis October 15, 2008 (11:15 am)

While I normally despise speed traps, etc. I have to say that I have been nearly killed at least a dozen times trying to cross 35th at Othello after getting off the bus in the evening. Just yesterday a driver stopped so a group of us could cross and a driver raced up behind her, gunned the accelerator, and switched lanes aggressively to go around – while we were all in the middle of the street! She then slammed on her brakes and nearly caused an accident. It was awful. Speed, aggressive driving, and inattentiveness were all a factor in this near-fatal situation yesterday.

Please, give us a brake! :)

datamuse October 15, 2008 (11:24 am)

So flipjack, was that you attempting to crawl up my tailpipe the other day?

mike October 15, 2008 (11:32 am)

Enforcement is cheap fixing the problem is not.

Brandon October 15, 2008 (11:32 am)

Why don’t more pedestrians use the signaled cross walks on 35th? Why do you put you life in someone else’s hand AT ANY time when you are crossing a busy four lane road? Pedestrian Privelege will get you killed if you insist on taking on autos. Use a signal light, there are plenty on 35th. And BTW, I am still curious as to the cause of the last 3 tragedies on 35th and California Ave. Was it speed, or lack of attention. There is a difference when it comes to enforcement and education (and note, even at the cross walk on Calif., the ped was in a crosswalk, so even then, attention vs. speed is a big factor.)
Headstone: But I Had The Right Of Way!

Brandon October 15, 2008 (11:34 am)

When drivers ignore the “Keep Right Except to Pass”, yes, that is me crawling up your back. Move over and let traffic flow. 55 in the left lane on the freeway is so insane and is common practice in this state. Its one of the worst I have seen out of many states.

Sarah October 15, 2008 (11:52 am)

Brandon, calling it “Pedestrian Privelege” (sic) is a little strong. Pedestrian naivete in some cases, maybe – naive because they expect cars to actually stop for them. If anything, I’d say it’s generally “Driver Privilege” in these situations; drivers assume they trump pedestrians and shouldn’t have to stop for them. Yes, ideally we’d all use marked crosswalks (though how many drivers actually stop for those?) However, there are substantial stretches of road in WS that do not have marked crosswalks or controlled intersections.

austin October 15, 2008 (11:58 am)

It amazes me the “me vs you” mentality that people get when behind the wheel. A lot of self-entitlement and antisocial behavior persist amongst drivers.

flipjack October 15, 2008 (12:10 pm)

datamuse,

I rarely tailgate, unless I’m in an unreasonable me vs you state of mind which I try to be conscious of (as my schizophrenia allows!)
I think being aware as drivers and peds is the only way. Ya gotta look out for #1, really you do.
Enacting a police state isn’t gonna help. Being courteous and aware will.
I’ve been trying on a slogan when I get in my car these days. ” I get there when I get there”

Brandon October 15, 2008 (12:17 pm)

Sarah, I agree with you. I used that term because in the week after the 35th accident, I observed: someone reading a book crossing the street downtown at 5th & Columbia; a runner with a baby jogger crossing a side street on 35th by Mt. St. Providence and not even looking if a car was approaching, just ran right through; someone crossing mid street at the Y and 37th in front of us without even looking that we could have hit; peds walking at Safeway in Jefferson Sq up the back driveway without a care in the world if cars were approaching. I coulud also think up a lot of “duh” instances with drivers too. I am amazed at how many people I see using I-Pods when driving. I think it does go both ways when it comes to cars and pedestrian responsibility and accoutability. And if I can help it, my kids won’t cross 35th unless there is a signal light, out of common sense.

M October 15, 2008 (1:35 pm)

Oldtimer & Cruiser:

We live in a wonderful country that enables us with certain civil rights. I’m sorry you two have given up on yours but I’ll keep mine thank you.

BTW that was not spam just a recommedation for a lawyer I used and it was money WELL spent

fiz October 15, 2008 (3:52 pm)

I stay off I-35, just too scary. A couple of weeks ago I watched a nutcase pass a school bus, on which lights were flashing, in the two-way turn lane on Fauntleroy. Incidentally it was in the Gatewood School zone and the yellow schoolcrossing warning lights were flashing as well. Kids everywhere. The car was traveling at 40 mph or more.

I regret that I couldn’t get the license number, she was going too fast and paid no attention to the frantic honking of the bus driver. All of this within feet of the school and The Kenney.

AJP October 15, 2008 (5:08 pm)

M–what civil rights are you talking about that you are keeping? The right to break the law and not be held accountable for it? The right to put others lives and property in danger? Sorry, I’m just not getting it.

While it’s true that courtesy and kindness are the only real fixes, there are many people who need to know there are consequences to stop them from breaking the law. Gotta have enforcement.

flipjack October 15, 2008 (5:35 pm)

AJP
I believe what M is talking about is our right to “innocent until proven guilty” habeus corpus We have a right to take violations we are slapped with and fight them.
You think Cops are always in the right?!?! Well, think again. Expecially when insurance companies get in the game and increase your rates and all that just because you were driving a little fast no matter how alert and attentive and responsibly you were driving.
Yeah I’ll always fight that crap.

AJP October 16, 2008 (9:52 am)

Thanks flipjack, I hadn’t thought of that angle. However, I still think speeding is speeding. My dad has never had a speeding ticket. He always goes the speed limit. I think it’s very rare that a cop cites someone for speeding and they weren’t actually speeding. I haven’t had a speeding ticket in years, but I always say that if I get one, I probably will deserve it.

Sorry, comment time is over.