Lower speed limits in Seattle gets unanimous approval
Sep 27, 2016, 5:49 AM | Updated: 7:04 am
A plan to increase safety on Seattle’s streets would change the speed limit on all residential streets from 25 mph to 20 mph. Streets in the “center city” would be reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph. (Chad Elliott, Flickr)
(Chad Elliott, Flickr)
The Seattle City Council approved lowering the speed limit in the downtown core on Monday.
Under the requirement that takes effect in November, the speed limits on arterial streets in and around downtown will be 25 miles per hour instead of 30. Speed limits on residential streets will be reset at 20 miles per hour instead of 25.
Details: How and where Seattle will lower speed limits
Council member Rob Johnson said the lower limits are vital to saving lives in the city.
“Speed kills and we need this legislation to ensure fewer people on our roadways every year perish as a result of collisions,” Johnson said.
The change is part of the “Vision Zero” program, which seeks to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on the road by 2030.
The council said Seattle averages 20 traffic deaths and 170 severe injuries per year.
