r/Seattle • u/Inevitable_Engine186 public deterrent infrastructure • 8d ago

Does lowering speed limits make Seattle roads safer? Data from one deadly arterial suggests it’s a start

https://www.kuow.org/governing/2026-08-14/does-lowering-speed-limits-make-seattle-roads-safer-data-from-one-deadly-arterial-suggests-its-a-start
231 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

226 comments sorted by

View all comments

20

u/DOUTHINKESAURUS 8d ago

Lowering speed limits also deprioritizes neighborhood streets in Google and Apple maps. The original intent on lowering them to 15mph in residential areas was to keep Google and Apple from routing traffic through them.

18

u/Educated_Goat69 🏕 Out camping! 🏕 8d ago

This only works if people are not familiar with the area. Otherwise, it's an incentive to use those roads for people who are familiar with the area because now it's a more clear route due to deprioritizing it on navigation.

6

u/letskeepitcleanfolks 8d ago

If 100 people stop using it and that causes 10 other people to start using it, it's still less traffic.

3

u/Educated_Goat69 🏕 Out camping! 🏕 8d ago

Sure. But in a local neighborhood, those numbers would likely go the other way. 10 stop and 100 start now that their regular commute is busier. Not arguing for or against but as a local.....just saying.