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  • Glendale Armenian group addresses pedestrian safety

    Glendale news Press, CA
    Feb 1 2014


    Glendale Armenian group addresses pedestrian safety

    City's chapter of Armenian National Committee looks to boost outreach on issue.

    By Veronica Rocha, [email protected]

    February 1, 2014 | 10:38 a.m.

    Fourteen pedestrians -- most of who were seniors and of Armenian
    descent -- were killed in traffic-related collisions in the past five
    years in Glendale, a statistic that prompted a local Armenian
    organization to strengthen its outreach efforts.

    Glendale's chapter of the Armenian National Committee plans to work
    with city officials to visit adult day care centers in the city. The
    committee will also be airing its traffic safety discussion, which was
    held Thursday, on Armenian TV in an effort to get the word out about
    pedestrian safety.

    "It's a big concern for us," said Talar Malakian, the chapter's
    executive director.


    The deaths could be attributed to numerous factors, including cultural
    differences, road safety and distracted driving, Malakian said.

    Many seniors, she said, emigrated from countries that didn't have
    strict rules for walking and driving, so they haven't been taught laws
    in the United States.

    The rise of social media and cell phone usage, Malakian added, has
    also prompted new distractions for drivers.

    The latest pedestrian-involved fatality statistics released from the
    Glendale Police Department show that between 2008 and 2013 there were
    14 pedestrian deaths. Of the fatalities, 86% were Armenians, 7% were
    other whites and 7% were Koreans.

    Armenians are the largest minority group in Glendale, according to
    U.S. Census data.

    Seniors between the ages of 80 and 90 made up 50% of the deaths, while
    44% were 50 to 80 years and 6% were 10 to 20 years old.

    Still, Malakian said the deaths indicate more education is needed to
    change the community's mindset.

    The statistics drove the organization to gather local experts and host
    the panel discussion, so teens and their parents would attend and
    start talking about traffic safety.

    Glendale Police Chief Robert Castro requested the latest statistics in
    an effort to identify how police could better reach out to the
    community because he said this week he plans to launch a campaign to
    get residents involved in traffic safety issues.



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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