Could Seattle’s Vision Zero use more focus?

Seattle is one of the most walkable cities in the country with a walking score of 99 out of 100 — that’s definitely worth a pat on the ‘ol back! But with all the new infrastructure and SDOT’s implementation of Vision Zero, the city has seen pedestrian injuries and fatalities increase exponentially.

Back in 2015, Seattle introduced Vision Zero, centered around the idea that no pedestrian/cyclist should have to die or suffer injury in a traffic accident. Its goal is to end all pedestrian fatalities by the year 2030.

But SDOT’s own data shows that pedestrian fatalities have gone up 150%, and as we approach spring 2022, those numbers are continuing to rise.

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That said, SDOT has made improvements all over the city, including:

1.  Leading Pedestrian Intervals at intersections were installed so walkers can have a head start and are visible to drivers.
2. Speeds have been reduced to 25 miles per hour throughout the city.
3.  Road diets have eliminated lanes to make the streets smaller.

But with the increase in fatalities it begs the question,  did Vision Zero lose its focus?

We asked SDOT to comment on the increase in fatalities and they replied with the following statement:

Unfortunately, traffic fatalities (especially involving pedestrians) have been climbing across the country and Seattle hasn’t been immune to that trend. With Vision Zero, however, we’ve seen positive changes where we apply proven engineering treatments. For instance, redesigning high injury streets like Rainier Ave S to slow vehicle speeds and reduce crashes; lowering speed limits across the city; making more intersections pedestrian-first; and expanding our network of connected and protected places to walk, roll, and bike.

There is more to do and our work will continue to be guided by a few key principles: crashes are preventable, death and injury on our streets is not acceptable, and humans make mistakes. We’re working to design streets in a way that accounts for human imperfection and frailty, prioritizing the safety of people over the speed of vehicles. It will take time, but collectively, we aim to advance a culture of care where everyone can get around safely and with dignity.

The good news about Vision Zero is that it has time on its side. The initiative has eight years to prove its self successful. Until Phase 3 to rolls out, pedestrians and cyclists will have to remain vigilant about safety and hope that drivers do the same.

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