Traffic Safety

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Telegraph Avenue

How the U.S. Could End Traffic Fatalities by 2050

Taking Vision Zero beyond the local level.

April 26, 2018 - Curbed

Biker Bike Bikes

Opinion: A Surprising New Foe in the War Against Pedestrians

Allowing bikes on sidewalks pits cyclists against pedestrians, an advocate argues.

April 23, 2018 - Crosscut

Daytona

After 34 Years of Complete Streets, Florida Still Deadly for Pedestrians

Florida’s incremental steps toward complete streets have saved thousands of lives, but still left it one of the most dangerous states to walk in.

April 19, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Portland Cycling

Study: High-Visibility Clothing No Solution for Bike Safety

A recent study from researchers at the University of Bologna adds to a growing body of evidence regarding their effects of laws that require bicyclists to wear high-visibility clothing.

April 18, 2018 - Cycling Weekly

The Dilemma of Autonomous Vehicle Testing

Autonomous vehicles hold the potential to greatly reduce auto crashes. Advocates want them on the road as early as possible to reduce fatalities. Skeptics worry that the public will be guinea pigs during the testing—case in point: Elaine Herzberg.

April 9, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Automated Vehicles

Autonomous Vehicle Reality

Planners must be realistic. Autonomous vehicles will probably provide smaller net benefits, including safety benefits, than optimists predict.

March 27, 2018 - Todd Litman

Tempe Police Chief: Uber AV vs. Pedestrian Crash May Have Been Unavoidable

After viewing the videos taken by two cameras equipped in the Uber autonomous vehicle that fatally struck 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg on Sunday, the chief concluded the crash was difficult to avoid. Also, lessons on the crash from David Leonhardt.

March 21, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Uber Autonomous Vehicle

Uber Car Reportedly in Autonomous Mode Strikes and Kills a Pedestrian

This is likely the first time a pedestrian has been killed by a self-driving car.

March 19, 2018 - The Arizona Republic

Death of Two Children in Park Slope Crash Sparks Protest

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has been criticized by pedestrian safety activists and, when a driver ran a red light killing two young children, hundreds came out to confront the mayor in person.

March 9, 2018 - The Village Voice

Traffic Cones

Friday Funny: A Cartoon on the Human Element of Traffic Safety

This might be one of those uncomfortable laughs.

February 23, 2018 - xkcd

Waze

Drivers: Beware Following GPS Navigation Instructions Too Closely

For the second time at the same railroad crossing in Atherton, California, a motorist followed his GPS navigation onto Caltrain tracks. In both cases, the motorists fled their vehicles before being hit by an oncoming train.

February 13, 2018 - (Palo Alto) Daily Post

Austin Pedestrians

On the Life-Saving Potential of Leading Pedestrian Intervals

Giving pedestrians a head start at crosswalks is a simple fix that could save lots of lives. New York City has already seen a significant reduction in fatalities and injuries.

January 31, 2018 - CityLab

Small sneckdown at Hampshire and Elm in Cambridge, MA

It's that Time of Year Again: Sneckdown Time

Every year, all over the country (depending on El Niño and Polar Vortexes), snow covers roads and traffic patterns and snow removal equipment reveals a safer street design.

January 26, 2018 - Blueprint

Speed Limit

Portland Lowers Most of its Speed Limits to 20 mph

Portland has implemented one of the most sweeping commitments to traffic safety of any city in the United States: 20 mph speed limits over the vast majority of the city's streets.

January 19, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Slow Turn Box

U.S. Traffic More Dangerous Than Other Developed Nations

Around the world, car crashes are the tenth leading cause of death, and while the United States is spending money on transportation, that money isn't making the roads safer.

January 17, 2018 - Curbed

Police Enfocement

'Textalyzers' Could Help Cops Bust Distracted Drivers

Chicago is one of the first cities to consider the use of "textalyzers," which would allow police officers to scan phones to see if they were in use during an accident.

January 17, 2018 - Chicago Tribune

Pope Mobile

Pope Francis Calls on Us to Be Better Drivers

Imagine all the people, driving safely and courteously.

January 7, 2018 - The New York Times

Detroit, Michigan

Michigan Finally Ready to Protect People on Bikes

A cultural change regarding bike safety for the home of the U.S. auto industry is a long time coming.

January 6, 2018 - Associated Press

Times Square

Get Home Safely Tonight (Or Tomorrow Morning)

CityLab has produced a pair of articles geared toward safe driving behaviors on New Year's Eve.

December 31, 2017 - CityLab

Freeway houses

A New Traffic Safety Paradigm

Despite numerous traffic safety programs, traffic death rates have not declined in a decade and recently started to increase. We can do better! A new paradigm identifies additional safety strategies that reduce both crash rates and risk exposure.

December 18, 2017 - Todd Litman

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

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