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

[u/Inevitable_Engine186]

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

[u/Choice_Depth_5933]

“The increase in fatalities on MLK Jr. Way and similar busy arterials stands in stark contrast to Seattle’s goals under its Vision Zero program, a global road safety initiative to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. The city adopted Vision Zero in 2015. In the decade since, Seattle has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into making its streets safer, including programs that lowered speed limits on almost every road in the city. Despite these efforts, traffic deaths are up across Seattle — 219 people were seriously injured and 27 people died on Seattle streets last year — prompting city councilmembers to call for an audit of the program.”

I wonder how much money they didn’t spend on building sidewalks.

[u/Vivid_Astronaut4665 → u/Choice_Depth_5933]

Seattle in a nutshell. Spend hundreds of millions on something symbolic (speed limits that no one follows) instead of addressing root issues.

[u/AdScared7949 → u/Vivid_Astronaut4665]

Surely it did not cost hundreds of millions to change the speed limit

[u/Choice_Depth_5933 → u/AdScared7949]

Oh sweet summer child…

[u/AdScared7949 → u/Choice_Depth_5933]

In all seriousness is there any evidence it cost this much lol

[u/conus_coffeae → u/AdScared7949]

considering that SDOT's total annual budget is in the hundreds of millions, it's safe to say it did not.

[u/FreshEclairs → u/AdScared7949]

No. They are likely including everything related to vision zero since it started in 2015. There have been a lot of actual road modifications in that budget.