Penny Soiseth, coordinator for Community Action Partnership and Region 1 Safe Communities Coalition, said there is much to be done with driver, as well as pedestrian safety in the coming year. The group is pleased, however, with the rising seat belt use in Williams County.
"The fact that use rose is a good thing. The other side is we're still behind the state average," said Soiseth of seat belts in vehicles.
A summer 2009 report from the North Dakota Department of Transportation put the seat belt usage rate in the state, using a 16-county sample area, at 81.5 percent. Williams County was listed as having a usage rate of 70.3 percent. This is a jump from 61.1 percent in 2008.
She said the number of people using seat belts has increased through efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of not wearing a seat belt and drunk driving. Another positive sign is an increase in children using seat belts. Soiseth said unfortunately, there are still far more people not buckling up than there should be, especially in western North Dakota.
"We in western North Dakota have consistently been lower than the state average. For some reason, we just don't buckle up out here," said Soiseth.
Williams County ranked ninth in the 16 county sample in the 2009 DOT report, said Soiseth. Being in the middle of the pack, instead of being close to dead last in prior years, is a good step, but she said much needs to be done.
She cited 2009 traffic fatality numbers as a primary reason for awareness on the need for seat belt use and alert, defensive driving. As of Dec. 10, there were 135 fatalities on North Dakota roads. Of those, 81 deaths involved people not wearing seat belts.
She added 44 alcohol-related crashes have resulted in 53 deaths so far this year.
Soiseth said things such as an increased level of traffic due to oil activity, drivers being impatient or distracted, and drinking and driving all could be increasing the number of fatalities.
"We haven't been able to pinpoint the exact reasons; there's a lot of contributing factors. The number would be lower if they were wearing seat belts," said Soiseth.
The Community Action Partnership is working on getting a Safe Routes to School Grant approved. In November, city of Williston Workforce Development coordinator Shawn Wenko ask the city commission for permission to apply for $25,000 in funds from the Safe Routes to School program. He was given approval to create a grant application.
The Safe Routes to School funds, if approved, are used to create a citywide crossing guard program for schools and to educate students, pedestrians and motorists about crosswalks and safety.
Soiseth said educating motorists and pedestrians on crosswalks and creating a crossing guard program would go a long way in improving safety.
"We want to be proactive and have things in place, instead of being reactive," said Soiseth.
Soiseth said one reason a program would help is areas around local schools become very congested at the beginning and end of the day with parents picking up children. She said the only school with a crossing guard program is Rickard Elementary School. Having an expanded crossing guard program in place at all the schools would increase safety.
Education on who has right of way when it comes to pedestrians should help as well, said Soiseth.
"A lot of drivers don't know if they're supposed to yield," said Soiseth.
Soiseth said they'll know if they've received approval for the grant in two or three months. From there, they'd begin planning the crossing guard program and create educational literature.
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