Seattle’s goal is zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Right now, the numbers are far from zero — and going nowhere but up.

Last year 219 people were seriously injured on Seattle streets, the majority of whom were driving or passengers, and around a third were pedestrians…As for deaths, 27 people died in traffic collisions last year, and the majority (18) were people walking.

People on Seattle streets interact with Vision Zero projects everyday: dozens of “No Turn on Red” signs, increased intersection visibility, and speed humps.

Advocates testified before [Seattle city] council members that they already know where the problem is…“And the ingredient that’s been missing has not been a lack of ideas or commitment from Seattle Department of Transportation, it’s been a lack of political will.”

  • velma@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    5·
    4 days ago

    “We’re still talking about the same streets,” said the Seattle Streets Alliance Executive Director Gordon Padelford. Namely Rainier Avenue, Aurora Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lake City Way, and Fourth Ave South, which are areas already flagged by the Seattle Department of Transportation as hot spots for injuries.

    “And the ingredient that’s been missing has not been a lack of ideas or commitment from SDOT, it’s been a lack of political will.”

    Specifically, he said, making tough changes to streets that might inconvenience drivers, but ultimately increase safety.

    Seattle Department of Transportation and the advocacy groups are saying the same - that there needs to be street revisions to better protect pedestrians, but there’s a lack of political will.

    Hopefully with the new mayor Wilson comes some changes on this front. It’s been a few months and maybe this’ll be brought to her attention sooner than later.