Spokane leaders announce traffic-safety package including new traffic unit, no-turn-on-red signs and a 12-month fatality review

Mayor Lisa Brown and city council leaders announced a package of traffic-safety measures Tuesday aimed at reducing serious and fatal crashes in Spokane, including creation of a dedicated police traffic safety and education unit, downtown no-turn-on-red signage, a 12-month traffic fatality review pilot and expanded automated enforcement.

Brown told attendees that Spokane had seen a rise in serious crashes and fatalities in recent years: "In 2019, there were 10 fatalities and 63 serious injury crashes," she said, adding that "in 2024, we had 20 fatalities and a hundred and 2 serious injury crashes" and that the city had already recorded six fatalities so far this year, including two pedestrians.

The new measures bring together police enforcement, traffic engineering and community programs. "Traffic safety is public safety," said Chief Hall, announcing that Spokane Police Department will reinstitute a traffic safety and education unit whose primary responsibility will be traffic enforcement and public education. "You will see motor officers out there... Their…