Despite a huge drop in vehicle miles traveled, there have been more traffic fatalities in the first six months of 2020 than the same period in 2019.
"Car drivers are killing people — pedestrians, cyclists, their own passengers, themselves — at a much higher rate this year compared to last, even though total travel is down dramatically because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new report shows," writes Gersh Kuntzman about the findings of data released by Sam Schwarts, a traffic engineering firm.
According to the data set, in the first 6 months of 2020, the death rate per million VMT has increased by 12.7% year-over-year from 1.02 to 1.15. Sam Schwartz National Practice Leader for Safety and Research Richard Retting says that while total fatalities decreased by 5% from January to June 2020, that number should be much lower given vehicle miles traveled during that time.
In New York City, a drip of 40% fewer VMT per day did not equate to a proportionate dip in fatalities. DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg thinks that "serial speeders" may be to blame.
"The increase in deaths per vehicle miles traveled has been discussed widely on a piecemeal basis, with most experts attributing the increase to rampant speeding in which drivers have engaged thanks to the fewer cars on the road," notes Kuntzman.
FULL STORY: Roadway Deaths in U.S. are Way Higher Than Normal — And in NYC, Too
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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