Washington crashes down 10%, but concerns remain (Axios Seattle)
Shift into Safe News
Washington saw nearly 10% fewer deadly crashes last year than the year before, but state officials say there's still a traffic safety crisis.
Why it matters: Traffic fatalities are still well above pre-pandemic numbers.
State of play: 731 people were killed in crashes last year, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC).
- That's down from the 809 killed in 2023, which saw a 33-year high.
- But 2024's numbers are still 36% higher than those from 2019, before the pandemic changed road behavior, say the authors of the report.
Driving the news: The preliminary data, released May 28, suggests that stepped-up enforcement and public safety pushes may have played a role in lowering deaths last year.
What they're saying: "This is obviously a welcome change," WTSC director Shelly Baldwin said in the report. "But we still have a lot of work to do to further reduce these historically high fatality numbers."
By the numbers: Risky driving behaviors — impairment, speeding, distraction and not wearing a seatbelt — accounted for at least 75% of traffic deaths in the state, according to WSTC's Mark McKechnie.
- Impairment from alcohol and/or drugs played a role in 348 deaths last year.
- 247 deaths involved speeding, and in 62% of those cases, the driver was also impaired.
- Distracted driving was linked to 138 deaths, a slight uptick from 2023.
- Motorcycle and pedestrian fatalities saw modest declines.
"We should drive sober, at safe speeds, without distractions, and buckle up," said McKechnie in the report. "And we should encourage those we care about to do the same."
Zoom in: The commission points to a combination of factors that helped reduce fatalities, including more enforcement, more police visibility and policy and design updates.
- Police stepped up traffic stops for speeding, distraction and suspected impairment, per the report, while some cities, including Seattle, lowered speed limits and expanded speed cameras in school, work and pedestrian zones.
- Investments in roundabouts and traffic calming measures, such as narrowed lanes, as well as public messaging on high-risk behaviors, are also contributing to fewer deaths, per the report.
