The month of October marks National Pedestrian Safety Month, and as we approach World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on November 16th, now is an opportune time to reflect on how PSRC is working to address the traffic safety crisis affecting our region.
Analysis from the Regional Safety Action Plan (RSAP) found that deaths on the region’s roadways have nearly doubled in the last decade. Severe outcomes, including deaths and serious injuries, are becoming more common despite an overall decline in the number of crashes per capita. It is important to note that nearly half of the increase in deaths on our roadways involves people walking and biking. Crashes are also more likely to be severe along arterial roadways with higher posted speeds and when larger vehicles are involved. Additional contributing factors most commonly associated with serious and fatal collisions include speeding, impairment, distraction, and failure to yield.
The region’s Equity Focus Areas have been disproportionately impacted by the dramatic increase in deaths and serious injuries on our roadways. These clear disparities must be addressed as we plan to improve road safety in our region. As an example, communities with over fifty percent of residents living in poverty experience rates of serious injuries and deaths 37% higher than the regional average, while communities with higher proportions of people of color experience rates 32% higher. In census tracts where these two equity areas overlap, the rate of serious injuries and deaths is 70% higher than the regional average.
In addition, the analysis finds that Native American and Alaskan Native residents are seven times more likely to die in crashes than white residents. To better understand this alarming trend, PSRC is currently developing a Supplemental Tribal Safety Analysis addendum to the RSAP, expected to be adopted by the end of the year. This addendum provides a more comprehensive analysis of safety issues and challenges specific to the Tribal areas within the central Puget Sound.
PSRC is committed to eliminating deaths and serious injuries in the central Puget Sound region through a traffic safety approach that is proactive, data-informed, and community-based. The Regional Safety Action Plan lays out a roadmap to eliminate crashes resulting in serious injuries and fatalities by:
- Developing tools for a shared understanding of the existing state of safety in the region.
- Engaging with a diverse population of community members, elected officials and regional staff across the four-county central Puget Sound region to understand their experience of safety issues.
- Developing actionable and proven strategies for crash severity reduction in a manual-style guide.
- Updating existing plans, policies, and procedures aligning with Safe System Approach principles.
For more information, please visit the Regional Safety Action Plan page on our website.