On Saturday, November 18, 2023, The Aurora Reimagined Coalition led a walking vigil to commemorate World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Traffic Violence the 35 individuals who have died in car crashes along Aurora since the city committed to Vision Zero in 2015.
Across the city 226 of our neighbors have been killed by traffic violence since 2015, and over 1,400 people have been left with serious, life-altering injuries. This is unacceptable.
The city can and must do better. Three simple actions that Seattle Department of Transportation can take to make our streets safer now:
Slow Down the Cars!
A person walking is twice as likely to be killed in a collision when a car is traveling at 30 mph compared to 20 mph. A safe systems approach will reduce those deaths by making drivers go slower and reducing interactions between cars and other travelers. Seattle lowered the speed limits citywide in 2016 and again in 2020, yet traffic deaths continue to climb each year. We must design our roads for a maximum speed.
Design For Safety
Arterial roadways make up about 15% of all roads but account for 67% of pedestrian deaths. We need a safe systems approach that includes narrowed lanes, wider sidewalks, no turns on red, planted medians, protected bike lanes, marked crosswalks, and protected intersections.
Stop Risky Driving Behaviors
Distracted driving, running red lights, quick turns on red lights, and speeding are examples of risky behavior. Enforced laws can change this.
Volunteers from Seattle Neighborhood Greenways hung silhouettes at each of the 226 locations across the city to call attention to our dangerous streets.
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE EVENT:
Safety advocates call for changes to 'Seattle's most dangerous corridor'
By Nina Shapiro and David Kroman
Community group marches along Seattle's Aurora Avenue for traffic death awareness
By Brady Wakayama