SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6303

BYSenators von Reichbauer, Bender, Thorsness, Murray and Talmadge

Enhancing pedestrian safety.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 18, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; von Reichbauer, Vice Chairman; Barr, Bender, DeJarnatt, McMullen, Murray, Nelson, Patrick.

Senate Staff:Cathy Mayo (786-7304)

                  March 3, 1990

House Committe on Transportation

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 5, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Each year in the United States approximately 8000 pedestrians are killed on our streets and highways.  At greatest risk are children and the elderly.  For five to nine year olds, pedestrian injuries are the most common cause of death from trauma.  More than 50,000 children and adolescents are injured as pedestrians, many sustaining serious head injuries which can lead to permanent disability.  Costs to the family and society for treatment and rehabilitation are very high.

In Washington State in 1988, 17 pedestrians under age 15 were killed and 528 were injured.  Most (83.6 percent) of these children were hit while attempting to cross the street.  In 1987, 82 children were treated for pedestrian injuries at Harborview Medical Center and Children's Hospital Medical Center.  Of those admitted to Harborview, two-thirds suffered head injuries and one-third required intensive unit care.

Statutes relating to pedestrian and traffic control signals have not been updated since 1975.  Language addressing pedestrians in crosswalks has not been updated in 25 years.

SUMMARY:

The definition of pedestrian is expanded to include wheelchairs or any means of conveyance propelled by human power other than a bicycle.

All references to vehicles "yielding the right of way" to other vehicles and pedestrians when approaching traffic control devices are changed to state that the operator of a vehicle shall stop to allow the pedestrians or other vehicles lawfully moving within the intersection to complete their movements.

If pedestrians have begun to cross before the display of either signal, vehicle operators shall stop to allow them to complete their movements.

Pedestrians that begin to cross a roadway while facing a control signal exhibiting the words "Walk" or the walking person symbol shall be granted the right to complete their crossing by all vehicle operators.

The driver of an approaching vehicle shall stop to allow a pedestrian to cross in a marked or unmarked crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the road on which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is on the opposite half of the road and moving toward the approaching vehicle.

When a curb ramp for the disabled is located adjacent to or at an intersection or marked crosswalk, disabled persons may enter the roadway from the curb ramps and cross the roadway within or as close as practicable to the crosswalk.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: FOR:  Dr. Abraham Bergman, Dir. of Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center; Barry Fairfax, Traffic Engineer, City of Seattle; John Moffatt, Seattle Police Dept., Traffic Section; Maureen Jones, Seattle Council PTA; Jim Lazar, Bicycle Federation of Washington

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

Technical references to "vehicular traffic" and "drivers" are changed to "vehicle operators."

Where sidewalks are provided but wheelchair access is not available, the person in a wheelchair may move along the adjacent roadway until reaching a sidewalk access point.