Updated on: 6/25/2020
Summary
The team of top-rated car accident lawyers at Davis Law Group analyzed weekday (Mon-Fri) motor vehicle accident data as reported to the Washington State Patrol for the third week of March in both 2019 and 2020. Dates ranged between March 18-22, 2019 and March 16-20, 2020. Report includes data for 37 counties; 161 cities; and 75 highways in Washington State.
- 67% reduction in weekday MVAs statewide
- 78% reduction in weekday serious injury accidents statewide
- 75% reduction in weekday accidents in King County
- 55% reduction in weekday accidents in Pierce County
- 76% reduction in weekday accidents in Seattle
- 49% reduction in weekday accidents in Tacoma
See data statewide; by number of vehicles; injury severity; county; city; or highway.
Coronavirus Causes Dramatic Reduction In Automobile Accidents In Washington
In cities and counties across Washington state, vehicle traffic on roads, highways, and interstates has fallen dramatically over the past few weeks as the local officials recommended that residents stay in their homes and workers telecommute if possible, to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
As businesses and schools have closed drivers have stayed off the roads and traffic jams have virtually disappeared. The number of cars and trucks on the roads has drastically declined. And so has the number of motor vehicle accidents.
Davis Law Group analyzed and compared 2019 and 2020 Washington State Patrol weekday collision data for the third week of March and found that the number of car and truck accidents in Washington state has dropped sixty-seven percent (67%) year-over-year. The number of chain reaction crashes, involving three or more vehicles, has fallen by seventy percent (70%). Serious injury accidents are down by seventy-eight percent (78%) and fatal collisions are down one-hundred percent (100%) year-over-year for the third week of March.
Reductions In Washington Motor Vehicle Accidents By County
King, Pierce and Snohomish counties have seen a tremendous reduction in the number of motor vehicle collisions as compared to the same week on 2019. Weekday accidents in King County fell by seventy-five percent (75%). Pierce county saw a fifty-five percent (55%) reduction in the number of crashes. And in Snohomish County accidents for the third week of March were down seventy-four percent (74%) year-over-year.
Cities Across Washington See A Reduction In Collisions During COVID-19
Last week many people noticed that there seems to be little or no traffic flowing through downtown Seattle during rush hour. As a result Seattle saw a seventy-six percent (76%) drop in the number of vehicle accidents year-over-year. Tacoma saw a forty-nine percent (49%) reduction in crashes.
Roadways & Interstates In Washington State Are Safer During COVID-19 Crisis
Across the state, from Seattle to Spokane the number of crashes during the third week of March on Interstate 90 fell a staggering eighty-one percent (81%). And from the Canadian border to Oregon accidents in Washington State along Interstate 5 fell seventy-nine percent (79%).
All Accidents In Washington State - 3rd Week of March - 2019 & 2020
|
Year |
Accidents |
% Change |
|
2019 |
2,014 |
|
|
2020 |
656 |
-67% |
Injury Severity - Vehicle Accidents - 3rd Week of March - 2019 & 2020
|
Injury Severity |
2019 |
2020 |
% Change |
|
Minor Injury Collision |
468 |
188 |
-60% |
|
Serious Injury Collision |
32 |
7 |
-78% |
|
Fatal Collision |
12 |
0 |
-100% |
Number of Vehicles Involved - Vehicle Accidents - 3rd Week of March - 2019 & 2020
|
# Vehicles |
2,019 |
2,020 |
% Change |
|
2 |
1,454 |
444 |
-69% |
|
1 |
361 |
152 |
-58% |
|
3+ |
199 |
60 |
-70% |
MVA Data By County - 3rd Week of March - 2019 & 2020
|
County |
2019 |
2020 |
% Change |
|
King |
739 |
183 |
-75% |
|
Pierce |
257 |
115 |
-55% |
|
Snohomish |
226 |
58 |
-74% |
|
Spokane |
131 |
53 |
-60% |
|
Thurston |
82 |
36 |
-56% |
|
Clark |
66 |
20 |
-70% |
|
Whatcom |
64 |
24 |
-63% |
|
Kitsap |
57 |
17 |
-70% |
|
Benton |
56 |
24 |
-57% |
|
Yakima |
56 |
24 |
-57% |
|
Skagit |
45 |
14 |
-69% |
|
Grant |
29 |
7 |
-76% |
|
Franklin |
25 |
8 |
-68% |
|
Lewis |
21 |
9 |
-57% |
|
Chelan |
18 |
8 |
-56% |
|
Whitman |
17 |
5 |
-71% |
|
Cowlitz |
16 |
12 |
-25% |
|
Grays Harbor |
12 |
6 |
-50% |
|
Adams |
11 |
5 |
-55% |
|
Clallam |
11 |
3 |
-73% |
|
Walla Walla |
11 |
6 |
-45% |
|
Island |
9 |
5 |
-44% |
|
Mason |
7 |
2 |
-71% |
|
Pacific |
7 |
1 |
-86% |
|
Jefferson |
6 |
3 |
-50% |
|
Asotin |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Douglas |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Kittitas |
5 |
2 |
-60% |
|
Okanogan |
5 |
1 |
-80% |
|
Pend Oreille |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Stevens |
3 |
2 |
-33% |
|
Columbia |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Garfield |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
Klickitat |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
San Juan |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Skamania |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Wahkiakum |
1 |
1 |
0% |
MVA Data By City - 3rd Week of March - 2019 & 2020
​|
City |
2019 |
2020 |
% Change |
|
Seattle |
327 |
78 |
-76% |
|
Tacoma |
119 |
61 |
-49% |
|
Spokane |
99 |
40 |
-60% |
|
Everett |
67 |
19 |
-72% |
|
Kent |
55 |
13 |
-76% |
|
Bellevue |
53 |
10 |
-81% |
|
Vancouver |
47 |
17 |
-64% |
|
Bellingham |
46 |
17 |
-63% |
|
Puyallup |
41 |
13 |
-68% |
|
Federal Way |
38 |
8 |
-79% |
|
Renton |
36 |
16 |
-56% |
|
Tukwila |
36 |
8 |
-78% |
|
Auburn |
35 |
10 |
-71% |
|
Lakewood |
34 |
12 |
-65% |
|
Lacey |
33 |
6 |
-82% |
|
Lynnwood |
32 |
7 |
-78% |
|
Bremerton |
30 |
10 |
-67% |
|
Bothell |
29 |
1 |
-97% |
|
Olympia |
29 |
19 |
-34% |
|
Yakima |
28 |
16 |
-43% |
|
Marysville |
25 |
14 |
-44% |
|
Kennewick |
24 |
19 |
-21% |
|
Spokane Valley |
24 |
9 |
-63% |
|
Richland |
23 |
2 |
-91% |
|
Pasco |
22 |
7 |
-68% |
|
Redmond |
22 |
2 |
-91% |
|
Moses Lake |
21 |
5 |
-76% |
|
SeaTac |
21 |
3 |
-86% |
|
Mount Vernon |
21 |
4 |
-81% |
|
Burien |
19 |
4 |
-79% |
|
Fife |
16 |
7 |
-56% |
|
Monroe |
14 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Issaquah |
13 |
2 |
-85% |
|
Kirkland |
13 |
3 |
-77% |
|
Pullman |
13 |
4 |
-69% |
|
Snohomish |
12 |
1 |
-92% |
|
Edmonds |
12 |
3 |
-75% |
|
Shoreline |
12 |
3 |
-75% |
|
Poulsbo |
12 |
2 |
-83% |
|
Port Orchard |
11 |
1 |
-91% |
|
Centralia |
11 |
5 |
-55% |
|
Tumwater |
11 |
6 |
-45% |
|
Wenatchee |
10 |
7 |
-30% |
|
Anacortes |
10 |
1 |
-90% |
|
Longview |
10 |
7 |
-30% |
|
Sumner |
10 |
1 |
-90% |
|
Arlington |
9 |
2 |
-78% |
|
Sunnyside |
9 |
1 |
-89% |
|
Lake Stevens |
8 |
1 |
-88% |
|
Mill Creek |
8 |
3 |
-63% |
|
North Bend |
8 |
1 |
-88% |
|
Burlington |
8 |
7 |
-13% |
|
Mukilteo |
8 |
1 |
-88% |
|
Walla Walla |
7 |
4 |
-43% |
|
Shelton |
7 |
2 |
-71% |
|
Battle Ground |
7 |
3 |
-57% |
|
Ferndale |
7 |
2 |
-71% |
|
Fircrest |
7 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Othello |
7 |
4 |
-43% |
|
Union Gap |
7 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Yelm |
6 |
3 |
-50% |
|
Oak Harbor |
6 |
5 |
-17% |
|
Mercer Island |
6 |
2 |
-67% |
|
Port Angeles |
6 |
2 |
-67% |
|
Port Townsend |
6 |
3 |
-50% |
|
Leavenworth |
6 |
1 |
-83% |
|
Mountlake Terrace |
6 |
2 |
-67% |
|
DuPont |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Bonney Lake |
5 |
8 |
60% |
|
Clarkston |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Enumclaw |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Lynden |
5 |
5 |
0% |
|
Toppenish |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
West Richland |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Blaine |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Carnation |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
East Wenatchee |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Ellensburg |
5 |
1 |
-80% |
|
Kelso |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Liberty Lake |
5 |
1 |
-80% |
|
Long Beach |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Newport |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Aberdeen |
4 |
2 |
-50% |
|
Buckley |
4 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Camas |
4 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Colfax |
4 |
1 |
-75% |
|
Sammamish |
4 |
3 |
-25% |
|
Bainbridge Island |
4 |
3 |
-25% |
|
Des Moines |
4 |
4 |
0% |
|
Maple Valley |
4 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Napavine |
4 |
1 |
-75% |
|
Omak |
4 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Ridgefield |
4 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Woodinville |
4 |
4 |
0% |
|
Roy |
3 |
2 |
-33% |
|
University Place |
3 |
1 |
-67% |
|
College Place |
3 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Edgewood |
3 |
1 |
-67% |
|
Elma |
3 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Ephrata |
3 |
1 |
-67% |
|
Hoquiam |
3 |
3 |
0% |
|
La Center |
3 |
0 |
-100% |
|
La Conner |
3 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Prosser |
3 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Airway Heights |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Gig Harbor |
2 |
6 |
200% |
|
Kenmore |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Milton |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Algona |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Cashmere |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Chehalis |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Coupeville |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Covington |
2 |
3 |
50% |
|
Dayton |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
George |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Mesa |
2 |
1 |
-50% |
|
Pacific |
2 |
3 |
50% |
|
Raymond |
2 |
1 |
-50% |
|
Sedro-Woolley |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Selah |
2 |
3 |
50% |
|
Sequim |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Stanwood |
2 |
1 |
-50% |
|
Tenino |
2 |
2 |
0% |
|
Castle Rock |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Sultan |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Morton |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
Mossyrock |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
Friday Harbor |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Langley |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Snoqualmie |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
Warden |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Benton City |
1 |
3 |
200% |
|
Cathlamet |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
Chewelah |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Colville |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
Deer Park |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
Eatonville |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
Electric City |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Everson |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Forks |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
Grandview |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
Granger |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Granite Falls |
1 |
3 |
200% |
|
Kahlotus |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Lyman |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Moxee |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Normandy Park |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
North Bonneville |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Northport |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Ocean Shores |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
Okanogan |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Pomeroy |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
Soap Lake |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Tieton |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Toledo |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Waitsburg |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Westport |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
Winlock |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
Woodland |
1 |
4 |
300% |
|
Zillah |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
MVA Data By Highway - 3rd Week of March - 2019 & 2020
|
Highway |
2019 |
2020 |
% Change |
|
I-5 |
189 |
39 |
-79% |
|
I-405 |
42 |
7 |
-83% |
|
I-90 |
32 |
6 |
-81% |
|
SR-167 |
22 |
2 |
-91% |
|
SR-20 |
18 |
5 |
-72% |
|
SR-395 |
14 |
1 |
-93% |
|
SR-99 |
13 |
6 |
-54% |
|
SR-2 |
12 |
1 |
-92% |
|
SR-3 |
10 |
1 |
-90% |
|
SR-512 |
9 |
1 |
-89% |
|
SR-12 |
8 |
3 |
-63% |
|
SR-525 |
8 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-527 |
7 |
2 |
-71% |
|
SR-538 |
7 |
2 |
-71% |
|
SR-101 |
6 |
3 |
-50% |
|
SR-7 |
6 |
2 |
-67% |
|
SR-520 |
6 |
0 |
-100% |
|
I-82 |
6 |
6 |
0% |
|
SR-202 |
6 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-27 |
5 |
2 |
-60% |
|
SR-9 |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-164 |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-161 |
4 |
2 |
-50% |
|
SR-410 |
4 |
5 |
25% |
|
SR-510 |
4 |
1 |
-75% |
|
SR-28 |
4 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-522 |
4 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-509 |
4 |
4 |
0% |
|
SR-518 |
4 |
1 |
-75% |
|
SR-17 |
4 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-240 |
3 |
2 |
-33% |
|
SR-16 |
3 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-523 |
3 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-503 |
3 |
3 |
0% |
|
SR-502 |
3 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-524 |
3 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-526 |
3 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-18 |
2 |
5 |
150% |
|
I-205 |
2 |
1 |
-50% |
|
SR-104 |
2 |
2 |
0% |
|
SR-900 |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-14 |
2 |
3 |
50% |
|
SR-305 |
2 |
3 |
50% |
|
SR-195 |
2 |
1 |
-50% |
|
I-705 |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-290 |
2 |
1 |
-50% |
|
SR-103 |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-204 |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-270 |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-285 |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-96 |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-97 |
2 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-303 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-504 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-500 |
1 |
3 |
200% |
|
SR-4 |
1 |
1 |
0% |
|
I-182 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-105 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-106 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-108 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-155 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-160 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-162 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-224 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-225 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-24 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-260 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-505 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-516 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-529 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-531 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-539 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |
|
SR-542 |
1 |
0 |
-100% |