New vehicle-safety rules could save lives

Cars of the future are going to be a lot safer than they are today, and it’s going to be easier for people to compare safety ratings.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced last week that it wants all vehicles to have electronic stability control systems. Such systems automatically adjust braking and power to help drivers maintain control.

Some carmakers already use ESC systems in some vehicles, which are listed on the Web site www.safercar.gov. But spreading the systems to all new vehicles could save as many as 10,000 lives a year, the agency said.

Most recent safety improvements (think the air bag) have focused on surviving crashes, not avoiding them, which is the goal of electronic stability control systems.

On the survival side, Ford has been testing a new kind of seat belt. The new belt would be more like the kind race car drivers use (or those used in infant car seats), with a strap over each shoulder, clipping into a latch between the driver’s or passenger’s legs. Adding a mini air bag to the belt straps would spread the force of a crash over a wider swath of a person’s body, reducing damage.

Then, on the knowledge side of the equation, comes NHTSA’s new “Stars on Cars” rule.

Starting with the 2008 model year, dealers will be required to display crash test ratings on vehicle windows.

We’ll have to take personal responsibility to improve the most important part of the safety equation – better driving.

Something old, something new

The Monroe Street Bridge’s new deck has some new technology in it.

“It looks like an old bridge, but it’s got state-of-the art techniques,” said Spokane Operations and Bridge Engineer Mark Serbousek.

Federal funds contributed to installing a demonstration deck with a higher density than other concrete. The concrete has fibers, similar to fiberglass, throughout.

Crews were repairing some small cracks in the bridge surface last week because the material has cracked a bit more than expected, but Serbousek said he doesn’t believe the cracks will cause larger problems.

Stable gas prices for some

Don’t get too excited. These prices are only for overseas U.S. military and their families.

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s overseas gas pricing policy means prices at military pumps don’t reach the ultrahigh levels of some of their host countries.

It also requires that prices change just once a month, and that the change be announced in advance.

Prices are based on the previous four- or five-week Department of Energy average fuel price.

So when prices are rising, military families can get a month’s respite before feeling the blow.

The downside? When prices fall, military families have to wait to see the effect.

New Coeur d’Alene signal

A left-turn, flashing yellow signal will be operational at Atlas and Kathleen by Oct. 1.

Huh? Well, here’s an explanation.

You already know what to do at the green turn arrow, where left-turning traffic has the right of way, and at the solid green signal, which indicates left-turning traffic must yield to oncoming cars.

The left-turn flashing yellow means the same thing as the green light. Vehicles turning left have to yield to oncoming traffic.

Your turn

Let the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization know what you think about its plans for the Huetter corridor at two open houses.

The KMPO’s draft report, Huetter Corridor Right of Way Needs, details how the area will be developed over the next 20 years to make sure traffic needs are met. It also describes the need for improving that roadway to provide another major thoroughfare parallel to U.S. Highway 95 and Highway 41.

Meetings are Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. at Centennial Distributing (use the east side entrance), 701 W. Buckles Ave., Hayden, and Sept. 28 from 6-8 p.m. at Post Falls City Council Chambers, 408 Spokane St., Post Falls.

Your turn II

The public is invited to comment on Spokane County’s Transportation Improvement Program 2007-2010 at a meeting Tuesday from 4-6 p.m. at the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, 221 W. First Ave., Suite 310.

Copies of the plan, which details city, county and transit projects, are available at the same address or online at www.srtc.org. The report is used to award federal and state funding.

Your turn III

The Spokane Regional Transportation Council will hold two public meetings next week on transportation planning in northeast Spokane.

The Northeast Transportation Study meetings are from 4-7 p.m. on Sept. 26 at the Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook St., and from 5-8 p.m. Sept. 27 at the North Spokane Library Branch, 44 E. Hawthorne Road.

Slow going

North Spokane

Monroe Street is under construction from Francis to Wall. Expect delays.

Rutter Parkway is open with no restrictions, and paving work was scheduled to be completed over the weekend on Highway 291. There may be delays for remaining construction items.

Crestline Street is closed from Lincoln Road to Francis Avenue. Lincoln Road is closed from Napa Street to Crestline. Detours are in place. Francis Avenue is narrowed to one lane in each direction at Crestline.

West Dennison-Chattaroy Road is closed to all but local traffic between Highway 395 and Perry Road.

West Plains

Hayford Road is under construction from Highway 2 to Sprague Avenue.

South Spokane

Highway 195 construction between Rosalia and Plaza will reduce traffic to one lane from 7 a.m. -6 p.m. Flaggers and pilot cars will direct traffic.

The Palouse Highway is under construction from Highway 27 to Odell Road. Expect delays.

Bernard Street is closed from 14th to 29th avenues. Traffic is detoured to Grand Boulevard and Lincoln Street.

Freya Street reconstruction will close traffic to all but local access from Hartson and 11th Avenue and from 22nd and 29th avenues.

Spokane sweeping

Crews will sweep in the northwest in the areas from Wellesley to Glass between Ash and Monroe and from Wellesley to Garland between Ash and “A” Street; in the northeast from Francis to Wellesley between Nevada and Division, and from Francis to Wellesley between Crestline and Nevada; and on the south side from Grand to Perry between 53rd and Highway 195, and from Perry to Regal between 29th and 53rd.

Please move cars off the streets. For more information, call (509) 456-2666.

Spokane Valley

Argonne Road is under construction from 8 p.m.-6 a.m. from Indiana Avenue to Montgomery Avenue. Watch for flaggers.

Sprague Avenue is closed from Harmony Road to Hodges Road through Friday.