Greater Eureka Area Traffic Safety Task Force Offering Free ‘Go Slow Watch the Road’ Yard Signs

This is a press release from the Humboldt County Association of Governments:

The Greater Eureka Area Traffic Safety Task Force invites you to pick up a free yard sign and take part in the ongoing “Go Slow Watch the Road” public safety campaign. You may have noticed the pair of eyes watching you from the trees outside the County Courthouse or noticed the black and yellow yard signs around the County. The signs are part of a public education campaign launched in response to the traffic safety crisis in the area, with the message that safe road use is a shared effort between all users. Education is just one component of a wider systemic approach to road safety that also includes engineering and enforcement. Please do your part by slowing down, and watching the road. 

Humboldt County has the dubious distinction of ranking number 1 out of all 58 California counties for traffic collisions involving pedestrians and has fatal collision rates double the national average and nearly triple those of California. 

“Fatal traffic collisions are entirely preventable, and there should be no loss of life on our roadways. We have a lot of work to do to improve safety on our road systems, especially for the most vulnerable road users, which is pretty much anyone not in a vehicle. But one thing all of us who drive can do now, for free, is slow down. Going slower saves lives,” said Beth Burks, Director of the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG). 

There is still time to pick up a “Go Slow” yard sign, and there are plenty to go around. Pick up a few for your neighbors! More signs visible on the street means more drivers seeing the message to “Go Slow, Watch the Road,” which can make a meaningful difference to slow traffic speeds on our roads. 

Signs are available for pickup at the City of Eureka at the front desk, 531 K Street or call 707-441-4200, or email Mayor Susan Seaman at [email protected] to make arrangements for a sign. 

HCOAG convenes quarterly meetings of the task force to gather updates and information that will be shared with the public as a reminder of our regional commitment to transportation safety. The City of Eureka spearheaded this regional effort by funding initial meetings to pull together a shared vision of the group and develop a strategy to share the outcome. Funding for promotional materials, including lawn signs, decals and banners that will be distributed throughout the region has been provided by the Humboldt County Department of Public Health Healthy Communities Division. 

Participants in the task force include: Virginia Bass, Humboldt County Board of Supervisors; Beth Burks, Humboldt County Association of Governments; Colin Fiske, Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities; Caroline Griffith, City of Eureka Transportation Safety Commission; Lisa Fryrear, State Farm Agent; Debra Garnes, Mayor of Rio Dell; Brian Gerving, Public Works, City of Eureka; Debbie Hart, Slow the F Down neighborhood group; Emily Hogan, Department of Public Health; Adelene Jones, Mayor of Blue Lake; Brad Mettam, Caltrans; Tom Mattson, Public Works, County of Humboldt; Captain Shawn Morris, California Highway Patrol; Cori Reed, Caltrans; Brittany Powell, Eureka Police Department; Susan Seaman, Mayor of Eureka; Captain Brian Stephens, Eureka Police Department; and Bob Walters, Eureka Driving School.