Sept. 26 Daily News editorial

Take a bow, smart drivers

Thumbs up: Traffic fatalities in the state were lower last year than they’ve been in more than half a century. Washington transportation officials reported Tuesday that there were 522 traffic-related deaths last year. It’s the lowest total since 1955, when 461 people died on Washington roads.

There are more people in the state and a lot more vehicles on Washington roads than ever before. So how can fatality rates be edging lower than they were 50 or so years ago? Improved vehicle safety features, better roads and stronger enforcement of traffic laws all play a role in the lower fatality rates, in the view of state officials. But so do smart drivers who are making good choices, such as buckling up. According to The Associated Press, 96.5 percent of Washington drivers use their seat belts. That’s a lifesaving choice.

This thumb’s for you, smart drivers.

Hiding a community asset

Thumbs down: Longview’s off-leash dog park at Gearhart Gardens marked its first anniversary a week ago today. If you happen to live in this area and have a sociable pooch, you’ve probably worked up a strong appreciation for the park by now. It’s a great place to let your dog run and play, working off a lot energy. But, if you’re visiting Longview or newly arrived to the area, you probably haven’t yet stumbled onto the park.

This is a great community asset that is getting virtually no promotion. It’s located off Tennant Way in a spot that initially can be tricky to get to, but there are no way-finding signs. The park’s not being promoted on the city’s Web site. There’s no mention of it unless you click on a list of parks, then click on Gearhart Gardens. Neither is it promoted on the county’s tourism Web site.

No excuse to sit this one out

Thumbs up: Haven’t registered to vote in the upcoming November general election yet? Not to worry. There’s still plenty of time, thanks to the Washington Legislature’s vote this year to move the deadline for final deadline for registering closer to Election Day. Voters now can register in person at county elections offices eight days before an election. That deadline used to be 15 days before Election Day.

Thumbs up to Secretary of State Sam Reed for pushing for that later deadline — and for his early backing of online voter registration. Washington voters can register for the Nov. 3 election online or by regular mail until Oct. 5. October 26 is the last day for in-person voter registration at county election offices.

With the final registration deadline still a month away, there’s no excuse for failing to participate in this election.

Justice, one way or another

Thumbs sideways: File this under “be careful for what you wish for”: A Castle Rock man who pleaded guilty to first-degree child molestation and was banished from Cowlitz County is heading back to the county. According to The Associated Press, Jack Irvin Sims’ attorney managed to convince the state Court of Appeals that the banishment order violated his client’s right to travel. The appeals court tossed out all of the original sentence, which included entering a sex-offender treatment program in lieu of serving from five years to life in prison.

This means Sims will be heading back to Cowlitz County Superior Court — and very likely on to a state lockup. At the original sentencing, the judge indicated that banishment was an essential part of the treatment-in-lieu-of-prison deal.