The bill establishes a framework for creating crash prevention zones in Washington State, allowing counties, cities, and towns, as well as the Department of Transportation, to designate areas with high rates of serious collisions. These zones are intended to provide time for safety investigations and improvements. Before finalizing a crash prevention zone, a public hearing must be held to allow community input. Once established, an engineering and traffic investigation will be conducted to identify necessary safety enhancements, including potential speed limit adjustments. Increased law enforcement presence and traffic law enforcement will be coordinated within these zones to reduce accidents.

Additionally, the bill prescribes penalties for traffic infractions occurring within crash prevention zones, with a monetary penalty of $73 for violations related to speed restrictions or collisions, provided that appropriate signage is posted. The collected penalties will fund safety improvements and enforcement efforts in the designated zones. The bill also amends existing law to authorize counties and cities to establish crash prevention zones in accordance with the new provisions, ensuring a comprehensive approach to enhancing road safety in areas with a history of serious accidents.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 36.89.030
Substitute bill: 36.89.030