Pedestrians walk on a decorative crosswalk in Westlake in downtown Seattle

The Vision Zero Action Plan is Now Available

Read the Vision Zero Action Plan 2024 Update and our next steps towards improving safety on our streets.

What is Vision Zero?

Blue logo that says Vision Zero: Safer Streets for SeattleIt's not only Seattle’s goal to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030. It is a culture of care and dignity for everyone who uses Seattle’s streets.  
 
We launched Vision Zero in 2015 and continue to evolve our approach based on best practices and evaluation of our transportation network. To rapidly advance our progress towards zero lives lost and people seriously injured, we have adopted the Safe System Approach centered on the idea of incorporating multiple layers of protection to prevent collisions from occurring and reducing severity when collisions do occur. 

Our Approach to a Safer Transportation System

Safe Systems Approach

A blue wheel divided into five parts. In each of the sections it says "Safer People", "Safer Vehicles", "Safer Speeds", "Safer Roads", and "Post-Crash Care"The Safe System Approach, established by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), is a framework for transportation safety centered on the idea of incorporating multiple layers of protection to prevent collisions from occurring and reducing severity when collisions do occur.

The Safe System Approach includes six guiding principles:

      • Death and serious injuries are unacceptable
      • Humans make mistakes
      • Humans are vulnerable
      • Responsibility is shared
      • Safety is proactive
      • Redundancy is crucial

SDOT has the most effective influence on our roadways in the design of our streets and setting travel speeds for safer outcomes. Together with our partner agencies at the local, state, and federal levels, we will continue to collaborate and support additional efforts that will encourage safer travel behavior, improved vehicle safety, and enhanced outcomes from emergency response in the event of a collision to address these complementary objectives. 

Collaborative & Comprehensive Safety Framework 

Graphic that shows a canister that is stacked in rows of blue and black, along with a badge

Responsive Safety

Use data from past collisions to inform safety investments.

Graphic that shows a blue gear with an arrow surrounding it

Proactive Safety

Scale up delivery of effective safety treatments and deploy them where they will have the greatest impact.

Graphic that shows a a document with a graph on it, and a magnifying glass

Capital Project Partnerships

Conduct safety evaluations for all capital projects and develop safety improvements in priority locations.

Transportation

Greg Spotts, Director
Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 3800, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34996, Seattle, WA, 98124-4996
Phone: (206) 684-7623
684-Road@seattle.gov

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The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is on a mission to deliver a transportation system that provides safe and affordable access to places and opportunities for everyone as we work to achieve our vision of Seattle as a thriving, equitable community powered by dependable transportation.