In response to concerns about the increasing number of traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Spokane, local authorities have unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing road safety for both pedestrians and drivers. The city plans to introduce a pilot program that will prohibit right turns on red lights along Main Avenue between Monroe and Division downtown. Additionally, crosswalk signals will be adjusted to provide pedestrians with a head start before vehicles are given a green light.
The Spokane Police Department is restructuring its traffic enforcement unit, now named the Traffic Safety and Education Unit. This unit will consist of four motorcycle officers focusing on traffic safety and three additional officers dedicated to DUI patrols. The insights gathered from this unit, alongside crash data, will contribute to the efforts of a newly established Traffic Fatality Review Team. This team, comprising members from various city departments, will analyze factors contributing to fatal crashes and provide recommendations to mitigate future occurrences.
Police Chief Kevin Hall emphasized ongoing efforts to expand the use of red light and speed cameras throughout the city. The initial phase will see cameras installed at Mission and Greene, Spokane’s most hazardous intersection, by summer. Additional sites will be selected later in the year.
These measures are part of a broader strategy to enhance safety for all street users, including pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, wheelchair users, and children. Mayor Lisa Brown highlighted the importance of these initiatives in safeguarding the community.
The Spokane City Council is also considering the implementation of the “Play Streets Program,” designed to facilitate neighborhood requests to temporarily close non-arterial streets for community gatherings, such as block parties. This program is set to commence in June and continue through October.
Councilman Zack Zappone elaborated on the program’s potential to foster community interaction, allowing residents to organize street closures for activities like playtime for children, spontaneous art festivals, or neighborhood barbecues, thereby revitalizing local communities.
Recent restrictions on right turns during red lights have already been implemented at several intersections, including 29th and Perry, Cincinnati and Mission, and North River Drive and Washington Street. These locations, along with Desmet and Hamilton, 44th and Regal, and Main and Post, offer pedestrians a head start when crossing. Similar adjustments will be made at Monroe and Summit Parkway, various points along Riverside Avenue, and intersections at Howard with Spokane Falls Boulevard, Main, and Sprague.
The push for stricter regulations on right turns on red lights gained momentum following the tragic death of 78-year-old author and foster advocate Janet Mann. She was killed in a hit-and-run incident at Main and Browne by Gary Burns, who executed a right turn on a red light before striking Mann. This incident underscores the critical need for enhanced traffic safety measures.