Video: Zeroing in on Nighttime Traffic Deaths

Three in four pedestrian deaths in the United States happen at night.

1 minute read

May 5, 2024, 11:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


"Stop - Pedestrians in crosswalk" sign in white and red lights.

Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons

In a webinar from 24 Hour Nation, a group of experts including Streetsblog’s Kea Wilson weighs in on the structural causes of nighttime pedestrian deaths, which make up three-quarters of pedestrian deaths in the United States.

Wilson highlights some factors, such as dangerous road design and high speed limits, which apply at all times of day, but whose effects are magnified after dark. “Then, Paris's Pedestrian Policy Manager Chiara Molinar reveals how the city of lights is charting a far different course, and Nick Mesler, of Evari GIS Consulting, explores how next-level GIS lighting analysis can help save lives.” Mesler explains how, for example, overly bright lighting can make dark areas seem even darker and obscure vision for drivers and pedestrians.

See the source story for the full video.

Friday, May 3, 2024 in Streetsblog USA

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

1 hour ago - InTransition Magazine

Row of older brick houses in Detroit with front porches and front lawns.

Detroit Says Problems With Property Tax Assessments are Fixed. Advocates Disagree.

With higher-valued properties under assessed and lower-valued properties over assessed, advocates say there's still a problem with Detroit's property tax system.

3 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette