The bill establishes a framework for creating accident risk zones on public roads in Washington State, allowing counties, cities, and towns, as well as the Department of Transportation, to designate areas with a high frequency of accidents. Before finalizing an accident risk 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 improvements, including potential adjustments to speed limits. Increased enforcement of traffic laws will be coordinated by the Washington State Patrol and local law enforcement to mitigate accident risks.

Additionally, the bill prescribes penalties for traffic infractions within these zones, doubling the monetary penalties for violations related to speed restrictions or vehicle collisions, provided that appropriate signage is posted. Half of the doubled penalties will be allocated to a dedicated account for funding safety improvements and law enforcement presence in the accident risk zone. The bill also amends existing law to authorize counties and cities to establish these zones in accordance with the new provisions.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 36.89.030