Traffic Fatalities

First Responders

New York City Traffic Fatalities Pass 2019 Totals

The visions of a car-free utopia that might have seemed like a potential silver lining in March and April have given away to a tragic reality.

November 29, 2020 - New York Post

Traffic Safety

70,000 Road Deaths in 20 Years: Texas Struggles With Traffic Safety

Texas has had a road fatality every single day for 20 years.

November 25, 2020 - Houston Chronicle

Mexico City Metro

Mexico Amends Constitution to Declare Safe Mobility a Human Right

Mexico recently ratified an amendment to its constitution to make safe mobility a human right. The amendment comes in response to unsafe conditions on the country's streets, roads, and highways.

November 9, 2020 - TheCityFix

Tennessee

Development Codes Have a Crucial Role in Traffic Safety

It's not enough to focus solely on the design and engineering of streets when looking for ways to improve traffic safety. The fruits of the planning profession must be held to account, too.

October 16, 2020 - Streetsblog USA

Outdoor Dining

Outdoor Dining No Refuge From the Danger of Cars

A driver lost control of his SUV in San José, California this week, plowing into an outdoor dining area and killing one customer.

October 14, 2020 - The Mercury News

Speed Limit

'20 Is Plenty' in the Twin Cities

The first 20 mile per hour speed limit signs have been installed this week in the Twin Cities.

October 14, 2020 - Pioneer Press

Complete Street

Safe Streets 'Champions' Announced

Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition announced a new initiative designed to help cities achieve the potential of a new approach to street design.

October 11, 2020 - Smart Growth America

Ambulance

Carnage on the Roads During the Pandemic

The National Highway Safety Administration released traffic safety data finding a huge spike in fatalities since the outset of the pandemic, but didn't mention the role of street design in traffic fatalities.

October 5, 2020 - Streetsblog USA

Uber Autonomous Vehicle

Back-Up Driver of Autonomous Vehicle Charged With Negligent Homicide of Pedestrian

The broader safety implications of the death of Elaine Hertzberg after being struck by an Uber autonomous vehicle in Tempe is still being litigated. Last week, the back-up driver of the vehicle was charged with negligent homicide.

September 21, 2020 - NPR

Kids Crossing the Street

Debunking Traffic Safety Myths as Pedestrian Fatalities Increase

Angie Schmitt, former editor at Streetsblog USA, has written a new book about pedestrian fatalities, which works to dispel some of the myths about traffic safety in the United States.

September 9, 2020 - Curbed

Crash

Traffic Fatalities Increase Dramatically in 2020

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.

September 4, 2020 - StreetsBlog NYC

Sports Utility Vehicle

The Onion: SUV Drivers Buy Into 'Them Versus Us' Mentality at All Costs

The headline of the latest foray of The Onion into the tragic world of traffic safety: "Conscientious SUV Shopper Just Wants Something That Will Kill Family In Other Car In Case Of Accident".

September 4, 2020 - The Onion

Highway Sign in North Carolina

As the Pandemic Rages, Carnage on U.S. Roads

Increased stress, increased speeds, more drinking and driving—whatever the reason, traffic fatalities are climbing rapidly even as more Americans leave the car parked at home.

July 23, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Bike Cops

Vision Zero...Without the Enforcement

As a leading bicycle advocacy organization withdraws support for police enforcement of Vision Zero plans, the discretionary practices of traffic enforcement come under rejuvenated scrutiny.

June 11, 2020 - Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia

New York City Traffic Cop

Fatal Collisions Increase Per Vehicle Miles Traveled During Pandemic

Data from the National Safety Council show the first evidence that with fewer cars on the road during the pandemic, fatal collisions have actually been more common for every mile driven.

May 21, 2020 - The Washington Post

Road Safety

Traffic Fatalities Decline for a Third-Straight Year 2019, According to New Data

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System released its preliminary estimates this week.

May 6, 2020 - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Pedestrians

State Legislation Responds to Pedestrian Safety Failures in Connecticut

So far in 2020, drivers have killed 15 pedestrians on Connecticut roads.

March 10, 2020 - Hartford Courant

Austin Pedestrians

Austin Traffic Fatalities Triple in January

In 2015, Austin, Texas adopted a Vision Zero goal to reach zero traffic fatalities.

February 12, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Indiana

Bike-Friendly City in Indiana is Known for Plentiful Roundabouts

Indiana's fifth-largest city, of just under 100,000, residents has 120 roundabouts, more than any city in the U.S., and only 14 traffic lights. The average traffic fatality rate is 83 percent lower than the national average.

February 2, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Market Street, Center City

Action Needed to Match Vision Zero Ambition in Philadelphia

Philadelphia's succeeded at reducing traffic fatalities in the first years after adopting a Vision Zero goal. That success didn't last, and one writer is calling for the city to back up its ambitious talk with actions.

January 23, 2020 - Philadelphia

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.