Traffic Safety

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Soldiers and Sailors Monument in traffic circle in Indianapolis at twilight.

Indianapolis Leaders Propose Vision Zero Plan

As of now, the city lacks a dedicated funding source for pedestrian safety efforts.

June 12, 2024 - The Indianapolis Star

Civil engineer in yellow hard hat and safety vest talks on radio while looking up at freeway ramps.

Traffic Engineer's Rap Takedown of His Profession

Transportation planner Buff Brown challenges common traffic engineering practices in a rap video which demonstrates how the Engineering Bingo Card of Excuses helps maintain the status quo of street design.

June 11, 2024 - The Barrier of the City Engineer

Close-up of white delineators with red stripes denoting green painted bike lane in Berlin, Germany.

Study: Bike Lane Prompts Reduced Traffic Speeds

Marking a bike lane with cones or other delineators can dramatically reduce driving speeds in adjacent traffic lanes.

June 4, 2024 - Rutgers University—New Brunswick

Panorama Close up of pedestrian traffic light signal against blue sky and bright clouds.

Traffic Safety Efforts Chug Ahead — Too Slowly for Some

Around the United States, traffic deaths are growing or plateauing, yet efforts to make roads safer still face political opposition.

May 30, 2024 - KFF Health News

Green parking-protected bike lane in Philadelphia with old church in background

Philly Mayor Proposes Major Cuts to Vision Zero

Despite promises to make the city’s roadways safer for pedestrians and cyclists, the proposed budget slashes Vision Zero funding nearly in half.

May 15, 2024 - MSN

Low shot of red painted bus lane on New York City street with blurred bus, pedestrians, and buildings in background.

NYC’s Vision Zero Program Saved $90 Million in Medicaid Costs

While traffic fatalities remain far above zero, the city saw fewer injuries compared to areas without Vision Zero initiatives.

May 12, 2024 - The New York Times

Freeay with Detroit skyline in background.

Detroit Metro Testing ‘Smart Road’ Tech

Sensors installed along a segment of Interstate 94 could help improve safety, limit speeding, and alert officials to potholes and debris.

May 7, 2024 - GovTech

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

Video: Zeroing in on Nighttime Traffic Deaths

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

May 5, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of car steering wheel and dashboard with driver's hand on steering wheel and illustration of automatic braking system on windshield with 'STOP' graphic.

NHTSA Finalizes Automatic Braking Rule to Advance Road Safety

New cars will be required to include automatic detection and braking technology for vehicles and pedestrians by 2029.

May 1, 2024 - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Aerial direct overhead view of I-35 freeway in Austin, Texas

Study: Higher Freeway Speeds Increase Crashes on Adjacent Roads

Interstate speed limits can have an impact beyond their own lanes.

April 25, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Pedestrians crossing a busy crosswalk on New York City street with tall buildings in background

New York’s Deadliest Neighborhoods for Pedestrians

Pedestrian deaths rose last year, but remain below pre-2020 levels.

April 24, 2024 - PIX 11

High view of woman walking in parking lot with red and white cars visible at left.

Non-Roadway Traffic Deaths On the Rise

A growing number of traffic deaths occur in driveways, parking lots, and other non-roadway spaces.

April 22, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Two cyclists riding on a protected bike lane on a bridge in Seattle with traffic on their left.

Seattle Road Safety Advocates Say Transportation Levy Perpetuates Car-Centric Status Quo

Critics of a proposed $1.3 billion transportation levy say the package isn’t enough to keep up with inflation and rising costs and fails to support a shift away from car-oriented infrastructure.

April 15, 2024 - Publicola

Chicago fire department fire truck driving down street with blurred background indicating motion at nighttime.

Balancing Road Diets With Emergency Access

Examples from the Netherlands show how bike lanes and traffic calming can coexist with effective emergency response.

April 10, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Stoplight with green light and "no right turn on red" pictograph on overhead signal

San Francisco Bans Right Turns on Red at 200 Intersections

More cities are reversing the 1970s policy due to its disproportionate involvement in pedestrian crashes.

April 8, 2024 - Axios

View of blurred traffic on South Beach, Miami street at nighttime.

Florida Law Targets ‘Activist’ Road Diets

Gov. DeSantis signed a transportation law that complicates the process for lane reductions, despite the rising number of pedestrian deaths in the state.

April 8, 2024 - Florida Politics

Young man in wheelchair crossing zebra crosswalk.

How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities

Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.

March 28, 2024 - Governing

Police office standing next to sedan he just pulled over at night with police car in background.

Report: Federal Policies to Make Traffic Enforcement More Equitable

Recommendations for how USDOT can guide more equitable traffic enforcement that improves traffic safety and protects vulnerable populations.

March 26, 2024 - Center for American Progress

Bird-s eye view of multi-lane road intersection with medians and crosswalks.

Opinion: What American Transportation Engineering Gets Wrong

And how transportation decisions could more effectively prioritize safety.

March 13, 2024 - Streetsblog San Francisco

One cyclist on yellow bike crossing vintage concrete bridge in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

Los Angeles Approves Road Safety Measure

Voters expressed strong support for road safety improvements.

March 8, 2024 - Streetsblog LA

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