Seattle to Drop City Speed Limits to 25 MPH, Double Red Light Cameras

Seattle city speed limits will drop to 25 mph as part of an overall $20 million plan to increase safety on city streets.

Double the number of the city's red cameras, too, and expect twice the number of safety-enhanced traffic signals. The moves are prompted by an increase in serious accidents in 2019.

In a press release, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said, "We must make our sidewalks and roads safe for everyone, too many of our residents have lost their lives in traffic accidents, often the most vulnerable. That is unacceptable."

Data supports the reduction. On roads where speed limits dropped to 25 mph, there was a 35% reduction in crashes. The number of red light cameras doubling will happen over a two-year period. By the end of next year, the city will have 250 intersections where pedestrian walk lights are lit a few seconds ahead of the green light to give pedestrians a head start.

The city will create a task force that analyzes every serious and fatal crash within the city limits to provde recommendatons to prevent similar future incidents.