REDMOND, Wash. — Speed cameras were installed in Redmond to support the Safer Streets Action Plan goal of cutting fatal and serious-injury crashes 50% by 2030. Redmond’s Speed Camera Program Analysis tallied injuried and fatal accidents over a 5 year period (2019–2024) for 3 school zones and 6 parks.

• School zones chosen for cameras: 16 crashes total, 0 fatal, 4 injuries
• Park zones surveyed but not chosen: 155 crashes, 1 death, 36 injuries

The analysis identifies parks as significantly more dangerous than school zones.

On the other hand; Of the 10 areas surveyed, Rose Hill Middle School (140th Avenue NE) sees the highest percentage of vehicles going over 26 mph (Between 58-62%). The crash data shows that there has not been a single crash on 140th Avenue NE over a 5 year period making it also the safest area surveyed.

The high speed and high safety may be attributed to road design: 140th is a wide arterial street, perfecty straight, nearly flat and has few intersections which encourage higher speeds. The sidewalks are separated from the road by both a bike strip and a plant buffer while the crosswalks are clearly indicated which protects vulnerable road users.

The following Police reports describe the 4 school-zone injuries:

• 21-001171 (Jan. 19, 2021, 5:20 p.m., NE 104th St. at Redmond High): driver eastbound strikes pedestrian in crosswalk at an estimated 10–15 mph; driver told police it was getting dark and hard to see. Not during flashing-beacon school hours. (report)
• 21-017434 (Aug. 20, 2021, NE 99th St. / 166th Ave. NE): bicycle rides into the side of a stopped car waiting to enter traffic; witness confirms the car was stopped. (report)
• 22-007560 (Mar. 28, 2022, NE 104th St. / 166th Ave. NE): three-car collision; at-fault driver runs a red light while driving on a suspended license with an outstanding warrant; dispatch initially reported no apparent injuries. (report)
• 23-009357 (Apr. 6, 2023): driver exiting a driveway without looking both ways strikes a pedestrian. (report)

There has not been a single speeding related injury in a five year period near any surveyed school zone in Redmond.

The Safer Streets Action Plan which aims to reduce injury crashes was used to justify speed cameras. Since the speeding injury count is already at zero, there is no possibility for school zone speed cameras to further reduce injuries. The need for them has not been demonstrated.