Design interventions for safer streets

Smart Growth America has been writing about the need for changes to street design for a long time—the first edition of Dangerous by Design came out in 2009. Despite the discouraging trends in pedestrian safety, our message remains consistent. In order to make environments safer for people walking, we need to actually change our environments. The data is clear that improving street design to slow cars, reduce conflict points, and proper and consistent infrastructure for pedestrians is the only way we’ll move the needle on safety.

Complete Streets Transportation

Champion Spotlight: Seattle, WA

This case study was written as part of our Dangerous by Design Technical Assistance program. This initiative brought together champions from across the country to advance street safety efforts through data collection and storytelling. This study was written by Natalie Lubsen from Transportation Choices Coalition. There are too many news stories of people killed or … Continued

Complete Streets Transportation

Designing vehicles for pedestrians

Designing for walkability is not just about roads. The design of vehicles—everything from their size and shape to their software—has a profound effect on the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users. Through our research and testing programs, IIHS is identifying vehicle improvements that can work in conjunction with infrastructure and enforcement changes to produce a safer transportation system for all.

Transportation

Champion Spotlight: Memphis, TN

This case study was written as part of our Dangerous by Design Technical Assistance program. This initiative brought together champions from across the country to advance street safety efforts through data collection and storytelling. This study was written by Jackson McNeil from Innovate Memphis. In the past 4 years, there have been over 1,000 pedestrians … Continued

Complete Streets Transportation

Champion Spotlight: St. Louis, MO

This case study was written as part of our Dangerous by Design Technical Assistance program. This initiative brought together champions from across the country to advance street safety efforts through data collection and storytelling. This study was written by Justin Seaton from Trailnet.  In September 2022, Danyell “Starr” McMiller was killed by a hit-and-run driver … Continued

Complete Streets Transportation

Champion Spotlight: Bismarck, ND

This case study was written as part of our Dangerous by Design Technical Assistance program. This initiative brought together champions from across the country to advance street safety efforts through data collection and storytelling. This study was written by Kimberly Riepl from Bismarck-Mandan MPO. Image of the intersection of 24th Street at Main Avenue. Kim … Continued

Complete Streets Transportation

Champion Spotlight: Kalamazoo, MI

This case study was written as part of our Dangerous by Design Technical Assistance program. This initiative brought together champions from across the country to advance street safety efforts through data collection and storytelling. This study was written by Nolan Bergstrom from the City of Kalamazoo. West Michigan Avenue, from Howard Street to the city … Continued

Complete Streets Transportation

Walking in Memphis: These streets are Dangerous by Design

Memphis is the deadliest city for pedestrians. According to our new report, Dangerous by Design 2024, Memphis holds the #1 spot, with a rate of 5.14 per 100,000 pedestrians who are hit and killed by cars while walking—nearly triple their rate from 2009. But why is walking in Memphis so dangerous? Our new video shares … Continued

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Webinar: How street design contributes to the pedestrian safety crisis

On Thursday, June 6 from 1-2:30 p.m., we’re hosting a webinar to dive into our upcoming report, Dangerous by Design 2024, which will be released May 30th. Register here. 7,522 people were struck and killed while walking in 2022. This crisis isn’t new—pedestrian fatalities are on a consistent upward trajectory and have increased by 75 … Continued

Complete Streets Transportation