Seattle, with its high population density and today’s intensely active lifestyle, creates a perfect formula for traffic accidents. The combination of crowded streets and a fast-paced way of life increases the likelihood of collisions.
One of the most significant factors contributing to these collisions and pedestrian accidents is driver distraction. As drivers navigate through the city’s bustling environment, maintaining focus becomes crucial to ensuring safety and preventing unfortunate accidents.
Historic Figures
Despite the pandemic’s restrictions and the resulting decrease in vehicle and pedestrian traffic in 2020, the year still witnessed 1,304 accidents due to driver distractions, leading to 4 tragic fatalities and over 170 injuries. As the city gradually returned to normal, these numbers increased to 1,607 accidents with 10 lives lost.
While there was a reduction in incidents in 2022, the troubling trend has unfortunately begun to rise again in 2023 reaching 1536 incidentes. 6 of these resulted in fatalities. During this same period, a total of 299 individuals sustained injuries that ranged from minor to very severe, further highlighting the significant impact of distracted driving on our community. Of the 70 collisions in 2023, up to 95 vehicles were involved due to the chain reaction effect.
Unfortunately, in 2024, with only 378 collisions recorded due to distraction, we have already matched the tragic number of 6 fatalities on our streets by the end of July.
Cell Phones: A Double-Edged Tool
While cell phones have changed our lives in many positive ways, they have also become a major source of distraction. Since 2020, an average of two people per year have died in Seattle due to drivers distracted by cell phones. This year, 2024, has already seen 15 such incidents, including one fatality on 4th Ave S.
Improper cell phone use has caused the following number of accidents per year: 62 (2021), 53 (2022), 58 (2023), 15 (Jan-Jul 2024).
Seattle is the Sixth Most Congested City
In Seattle, drivers spend an astonishing amount of time stuck in traffic, with up to 138 hours annually, compared to the national average of 97 hours. This situation ranks the city as the sixth worst in terms of traffic congestion in the U.S. Unfortunately, many individuals try to make use of this time by engaging in activities such as eating, using their phones, or applying makeup, which adds to the risk of traffic accidents.
Busy Seattle Roads
It’s crucial to be aware of high-traffic areas to ensure you pay extra attention to the road, as pedestrians, cyclists, shoppers, and various types of vehicles frequently populate these zones. According to the Seattle Department of Transportation, some of the busiest roads in Seattle on an average weekday include:
- NE 45th Street
- Mercer Street
- East Marginal Way South
- Aurora Avenue North
- West Seattle Bridge (90,000 daily drivers)
- I-5
- I-90
- I-405
Navigating these roads requires heightened awareness due to their high volume of traffic and the diverse mix of road users.
All traffic statistics provided by the WSDOT the and Washington Traffic Safety Commission