Fatal Crash Response

Seattle's goal is to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries through Vision Zero. Whenever a life is lost on our roadways, it deeply affects families, neighbors, communities, and our entire city. We recognize the impact of these events and are committed to taking action to understand what happened and pursuing safety improvements that could reduce the likelihood of serious injury and fatal incidents in the future. 

From Review to Action

To broaden our toolkit of responsive safety strategies, we adopted a Programmatic Fatal Crash Response Policy in May 2026. This policy provides an expanded, structured process that activates every time a fatal crash occurs on a Seattle Street. Our response is divided into two phases to ensure we approach every fatal crash with care and urgency. 

Phase 1: Rapid Response

Within the first few weeks after a fatal crash occurs, we conduct an initial review by visiting the site where the crash happened, documenting conditions, and understanding contributing factors based on the crash reports provided by the Seattle Police Department. We also identify critical maintenance and repair needs at the site and prioritize addressing these needs.

Phase 2: Programmatic Review

Every six months, we conduct a broader review of all fatal crashes involving the most vulnerable users on our streets—people walking, biking, rolling, scooting, or riding motorcycles/mopeds. During this phase, we collect additional data at each crash site, study the history of crashes, and identify projects that can be constructed to address safety needs.

Implementation: Safety Investments 

The findings from our reviews help guide future safety investments. These projects are prioritized for construction and can range from small fixes to more substantial design changes.