Mayor trumpets SAFEclear program
The Chronicle's Matt Stiles reports that Mayor White is trumpeting his SAFEclear program:
Crashes on Houston freeways have declined almost 20 percent since 2004, according to newly released statistics — an improvement Mayor Bill White attributes to his Safe Clear mandatory towing program.
The figures, released under the Texas Public Information Act, show there were 2,500 fewer crashes on 13 freeway segments in Houston from 2004 to 2006.
White said Thursday that the $3 million towing program, launched in January 2005, has reduced crashes by quickly removing disabled vehicles that can lead to secondary wrecks. He said the figures vindicate the program, which has drawn political heat in the past and is still being attacked in federal court.
It's hard to disagree with the premise that getting stalled cars off of congested freeways would help congestion and reduce accidents. However, people did legitimately criticize Bicyclist Bob Stein's notion that the program should be paid for in part by tow companies confiscating and selling the cars of poor people, the draconian aspects of the program, and the deficiencies of the screening process for SAFEclear drivers.
While it's good that accidents are down, it's not unreasonable for councilmembers, citizens, and even journalists to be interested in both the cost and the performance of wrecker drivers (in terms of response times) involved in the SAFEclear program. It may indeed be money well spent, as the Mayor insists, but it's okay for people to decide for themselves.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE: NewsWatch: City Hall.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/23/07 10:08 PM | Houston Transit | Print | Comments (0)
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