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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Best Foot Forward: How the State Supports Improved Pedestrian Safety

October 22, 2025  by  Lisa Pool ,  Briana Weisgerber
Category:  Guest Author ,  Cycling and Walking ,  Streets and Sidewalks ,  Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Looking to make your local roads safer for people biking and walking? Washington State offers a variety of resources, including grant programs, to support projects that create safer roads, from speed management strategies to the construction of better crosswalks. 

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Reducing Crash Severity with Speed Limit Setting and Speed Management

February 19, 2025  by  Briana Weisgerber
Category:  Guest Author ,  Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Many localities are interested in setting and achieving safe speeds on their roads to reduce rates of vehicle-related accidents and injuries. What are some tools and best practices agencies can follow to determine what safe system speeds look like for their communities?

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Traffic Camera Use by Local Governments: Considerations, Limitations, and Pitfalls to Avoid

February 5, 2025  by  Harry Boesche
Category:  Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Before implementing the use of traffic cameras to detect vehicle-related infractions, a local government should review the process for setting up a program, including how to use revenue associated with infractions, required reports, and how to handle material produced by cameras.

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Slow Down, You Go Too Fast: Traffic Camera Use By Local Government

January 28, 2025  by  Harry Boesche
Category:  Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Recent changes to state law have expanded the ability of local governments to use traffic cameras for a variety of infractions related to vehicle use. Before implementing their use, a local government should fully understand where they may be employed, and for what purpose.

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Reducing Local Street Speed Limits in Bellevue: Safety Starts on Your Street – Part 2

January 21, 2025  by  John Murphy
Category:  Guest Author ,  Streets and Sidewalks ,  Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Following a multiyear, iterative process, the City of Bellevue lowered the default speed limit on city streets to 20 mph. How did planning staff work with the city council and other departments to coordinate such a huge effort, and what advice would they offer to others?

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Reducing Local Street Speed Limits in Bellevue: Safety Starts on Your Street – Part 1

January 13, 2025  by  John Murphy
Category:  Guest Author ,  Streets and Sidewalks ,  Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Partly in response to concerns about speeding, Bellevue lowered the default speed limit on city streets to 20 mph, but only after a three-year process that included laying the groundwork and running pilot programs to test the efficacy of lower speed limits on public safety.

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On-Road ATV Use Broadened Slightly In 2021

August 12, 2021  by  MRSC Insight
Category:  Traffic Regulation and Enforcement ,  New Legislation and Regulations

This blog offers an update on the use and regulation of ATVs on public roads, including an overview of two bills from 2021 impacting ATV use and licensure.

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WATVs (Wheeled All-Terrain Vehicles) Issues and Reminders

April 12, 2017  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

The 2013 legislature made major changes to the authority of riders to use some off-road vehicles on public roads. Since then WATVs have been increasingly used on public roads in the State of Washington. 

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