Seattle doing away with right turns on red lights downtown
Posted February 16, 2015 8:58 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SEATTLE (NEWS1130) – How can we reduce the number of deaths on our roads? It’s a question all cities grapple with.
A city just south of us has some unique plans. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray says the plan, called “Vision Zero,” is meant to bring an end to deaths and serious injuries on roads in the next 15 years.
One of the most interesting changes in this plan is drivers will no longer be allowed to turn right on red lights at a number of intersections downtown.
The city also plans to get rid of dual turn lanes in those areas.
It’s also also taking speed limits down to just over 40km/h in the downtown core and just over 32km/h on residential streets in areas where there have been crashes in the past.
The city says 15 people were killed in crashes in 2014; five were riding a bike or walking.
More than 10,000 crashes happen every year in Seattle.
Vancouver has made similar changes in recent years; back in 2011, the speed limit on a stretch of Hastings Street was taken down to 30km/h.
The installation of bike lanes has also eliminated right turns on red lights at certain corners.
