Washington will take a more systematic approach to reviewing deadly crashes and preventing future fatalities under legislation sponsored by Rep. Sam Low and signed into law this week by Gov. Bob Ferguson.
House Bill 2192 will expand the role of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission by directing it to examine the factors behind fatal and serious-injury collisions and use that information to improve safety statewide.
Traffic fatalities in Washington surged after 2020 and reached 809 deaths in 2023, the highest annual total since 1990. Although deaths declined in 2024, they remain well above pre-pandemic levels. Since 2022, 2,283 people have died and nearly 10,000 have been seriously injured in traffic crashes statewide. State data show impaired driving is involved in roughly half of fatal crashes, with speeding and distraction also frequently contributing.
“Every life lost on our roads is someone who should have made it home,” said Low, R-Lake Stevens, who serves as the assistant ranking member on the House Transportation Committee. “These crashes leave families grieving and communities changed, and for those families, there is no moving on. We owe it to them to learn from these tragedies, and we owe it to all Washingtonians to make sure our roads are as safe as possible. This law will allow us to take a closer look at these crashes and turn what we learn into steps that reduce fatalities.”
House Bill 2192 will allow the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to collect and analyze crash, health and licensing data to identify trends and contributing factors in fatal and serious-injury collisions. The commission will be able to link data across sources and conduct analysis to better understand the causes of crashes and inform prevention strategies. The law will also establish fatality review committees made up of subject matter experts to examine crashes involving all roadway users and develop recommendations for policy and program improvements statewide.
Medical records, driver licensing records and other confidential information reviewed during fatality reviews will be exempt from public disclosure. Committee meetings will be confidential, and discussions and certain documents will not be used in civil or administrative proceedings.
House Bill 2192 passed the House 96-1 and the Senate 46-2. It takes effect June 11.
Source: Office of Rep. Sam Low.
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
