King County Prosecutors from the Felony Traffic Unit are raising concerns over a recent, significant increase in traffic fatalities and serious injury crashes in the region.
As of May 2024, the specialized prosecutors reported a 143% increase in felony-level traffic crime cases compared to 2019. The data indicate that the years 2019–2020 saw a notable spike in deadly crashes in King County, a trend that has continued unabated.
In response to this growing public safety and health crisis, King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion established the Felony Traffic Unit in 2023. The unit comprises three attorneys, victim advocates, a restitution investigator, and paralegals, all working to bring offenders to justice and support victims.
The statistics are sobering. In 2022, King County experienced 151 traffic fatalities, a 94% increase compared to 2013. Additionally, 2022 saw 709 serious injury crashes, a 561% increase compared to 2014. These tragedies disproportionately impact communities of color, highlighting racial and ethnic disparities in traffic-related incidents.
Key factors contributing to the increase in fatalities and serious injuries include higher rates of drug and alcohol impairment, more drivers hitting pedestrians and bicyclists, and a rise in unrestrained occupants not wearing seat belts.
Addressing these issues requires a collaborative effort, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is committed to doing its part. Prosecutors urge the public to report traffic crimes to law enforcement and make use of available resources, such as the Washington Department of Licensing and the King County Traffic Safety Coalition.
For more information and resources, visit:
- WA Department of Licensing: https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/driver-safety/report-unsafe-drivers
- King County Traffic Safety Coalition: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/safety-injury-prevention/traffic-safety/traffic-safety-coalition
- Washington Traffic Safety Commission: https://wtsc.wa.gov/
If only the statistics, or the will to share that info showed the percentage increase due to crashed stolen vehicles, either by running from the Law, or just being a punk. It’s becoming quite a free for all out there, red light running, weaving and racing all due to lack of Officers in the ranks to patrol.
I feel like this should also mention the epidemic that is oversized vehicles; the bigger the vehicle, the harder it is to see peds/cyclists. If a 5′ adult can stand in front of your car and you can’t see them, your car is too big. There is no reason to have a family vehicle that large.
Additionally, our streets are designed for vehicles to go too fast. We need to implement traffic calming designs and expand protective ped/cyclist infrastructure. The “convenience” of driving should not come with a toll of tens of thousands of lives each year.
I’ve heard several Burien council members, both past and present, mention walkability of Burien, but we have no sidewalks in most of our city, excepting downtown, and immediately in the vicinity of schools. The rest of the routes are narrow shoulders along “25 MPH” zones where people routinely do 40+.
I wish our representatives would spend more of their political clout combatting this epidemic which is a FAR bigger threat to our citizens.
The minute I walk out the door, my head is on a swivel.