King County is swiftly ushering in a new era of traffic safety with the introduction of "SmartSigns," cutting-edge technology programmed to halt drivers in their tracks if caught texting or engaging in other unsafe driving behaviors. These signs, now undergoing a trial phase set to extend through July, harness infrared technology, not to penalize with tickets, but to issue digital warnings and amass data for road safety enhancements. KING5 News reported on these developments earlier this month.
The eyes might not see them, but these signs are meant to subtly get drivers to reconsider their actions on the road. The innovative signs do not only flash warnings but also adapt their messages based on the detected infraction. Should you be found to be speeding, the sign commands you to "Slow down," and if that phone isn't where it should be, expect a stern "Phone down." This project, stemming from the initiatives of the King County Target Zero Traffic Safety Coalition, aims to significantly reduce fatalities by adjusting driver behaviors, as per The Seattle Times.
In 2023, Washington state witnessed an alarming 11% hike in road deaths, contrasting sharply with a national decline — this despite significant efforts at improving road safety. Distracted driving remains a pivotal factor, implicated in 121 of the 813 traffic fatalities recorded in the state last year. The "SmartSigns," deployed in locations such as Pacific on Milwaukee Boulevard, Issaquah on Front Street, and Seattle’s Airport Way and White Center, manifest the region's commitment to confronting this trend.
These "Smart Signs" are more than mere electronic sentries policing speed. They boast a sophisticated blend of microwave and infrared technology capable of discerning whether a mobile phone is in the hands of drivers, and even to differentiate when a passenger is the one wielding the device. "We’ve spent three or four years developing a very special sensor that uses microwave and infrared waves to be able to tell if there is a phone in someone’s hand," Tim Hogan, founder of Safer Street Solutions, the company behind the SmartSigns, explained to KIRO7. This nuanced detection aims to zero in on the type of behavior that’s particularly dangerous.
As King County commuters become accustomed to the high-tech scrutiny of their driving habits, the hope is this novel "SmartSigns" will help to nudge the needle closer toward the region's ultimate goal of zero traffic deaths. The evolving landscape of road safety is vividly marked by such interventions, where technology plays an increasingly critical role in safeguarding our shared journeys.
