Seattle Among Nation's Most Walkable, But More Work Needed to Prevent Pedestrian Deaths

For Immediate Release: May 20, 2014
Contact: Jason Erskine / 206-517-9345

Report finds street design plays role in tragic deaths

SEATTLE, WA – The Seattle region is among the safest regions in the nation for pedestrians, ranking 49 of the 51 largest metro areas, a new report released by the National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America, said.

Over the decade from 2003 – 2012, 375 people were killed while walking in the Seattle. The report, Dangerous By Design - WA ranks America’s major metropolitan areas according to a Pedestrian Danger Index that assesses how safe pedestrians are while walking. The report found that these deaths could have been prevented through better street design.

The majority of pedestrian deaths occur on roadways that are dangerous by design —engineered and operated for speeding traffic with little to no provision for the safety of people walking, biking or using public transit. In the Seattle region, more than half of all pedestrian fatalities were on arterial roadways and almost half were on roads with speed limits of 40 mph or higher.

“We’re proud to be one of the best cities for walking, but we must do more to keep our residents and visitors safe, especially children and older adults, for people of color, and in low-income communities,” said Lisa Quinn, Executive Director of Feet First. “Pedestrian deaths are preventable—even one is one too many.”

Sadly, older adults and children are the most at risk while walking, dying in disproportionate numbers. While comprising just under 13 percent of the total population, older adults over the age of 65 years old account for nearly 26 percent of pedestrian fatalities.

“Making our streets safer for older adults and children will make them safer for everyone,” said Ingrid McDonald, Advocacy Director of AARP Washington. “Leaders at the city and state levels have been working to redesign dangerous streets and intersections so that everyone feels comfortable getting where they need to go, regardless of age or ability, walking, catching a bus, or driving.”

In the state of Washington, more than 40 children aged 15 and younger were killed; pedestrian injury is the third leading cause of death by unintentional injury for children 15 and younger. According to a study by the Washington State Department of Transportation, investing in Safe Routes to School programs across the state has resulted in more children walking and bicycling to school; new sidewalks and reduced speeds near schools; and no collisions in any location after project completion.

“We have new policies on the books that can help make our streets safer for everyone, without expensive engineering review. The Washington State and Seattle Departments of Transportation, in endorsing the Urban Street Design Guide from National Association of City Transportation Officials, have recognized that community street design is different than highway design,” said Andrew Austin of Transportation Choices Coalition. “We need to use these tools to create safe places for people to walk and meet our state and city’s Target Zero goals to reduce serious injuries and deaths to zero by 2013.”

Pedestrian safety is often perceived as a strictly local issue but, for decades, federal dollars have been invested in thousands of miles of state and local roads in the heart of communities. In fact, 68 percent of all pedestrian fatalities over the past decade occurred on federal-aid roads — roads that follow federal guidelines and are eligible to receive federal funds.

“Washington State is on the right track,” said Roger Millar, Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition. “State and local transportation leaders need to prioritize the implementation of Complete Streets policies to improve safety for people walking.”

The federal government sets the tone for a national approach to safety, and Congress can address this critical issue by passing the Safe Streets Act as it renews the federal transportation law. Doing so will help Seattle access needed funding to design and build safer streets for everyone.

In addition, the report presents data on pedestrian fatalities and injuries in every U.S. metro area, as well as state and county assessments and an online, interactive map showing the locations where pedestrian fatalities have occurred.

Both the Dangerous By Design - WA and national versions of the report are available online.

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About The National Complete Streets Coalition
The National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America, seeks to fundamentally transform the look, feel and function of the roads and streets in our community, by changing the way most roads are planned, designed and constructed. Complete Streets policies direct transportation planners and engineers to consistently plan and design streets with all users in mind.

About Smart Growth America
Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring better development to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transportation or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods.

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services.  A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates.  The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

About Transportation Choices Coalition
Founded in 1993, Transportation Choices is a statewide policy and advocacy nonprofit dedicated to bringing Washingtonians more and better transportation choices. We work hard to preserve and expand access to public transit and active transportation options across the state.

In addition to our work to preserve and expand transportation options, Transportation Choices also offers education and outreach programs to encourage Washingtonians to choose alternatives to driving alone.

About Feet First
Feet First works to ensure all communities across Washington are walkable. Since 2001, the non-profit has helped people take steps that create better places to live, learn, shop, work, and play--a world that cares about health, community, and design.