A historic increase in pedestrian deaths from 2020 to 2021 shocked many, but this epidemic continues to get worse. In 2022, the most recent year with complete federal data, the number of people who were struck and killed while walking grew to 7,522, marking a 40-year high. This represents an astonishing 75 percent increase in … Continued
Speed plays a drastically different role in pedestrian deaths than it does for drivers and their passengers. The most dangerous crashes for vehicle occupants are typically at much higher speeds and often involve speed limit violations. Pedestrians, however, face constant threats even on roads that are designed and posted at lower speeds, and when drivers … Continued
Detroit, Michigan has made an effort to address dangerous street design and prioritize the safety of people walking. So far, the changes have been pulling off. Since 2018, the city has seen a 40 percent decrease in fatalities.
Police-reported crash data tells only part of the safety story, and the risks that people walking and biking face on our roadways are potentially much higher than the numbers show. To address safety needs, performance measures and management systems cannot simply respond to crash data alone. The information and recommendations provided in SGA’s Dangerous by … Continued
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.
The number of people hit and killed while walking in Buffalo, New York has decreased by 50 percent since 2018, thanks to the efforts of local advocates and city officials to prioritize safety over speed.
After a decade of increased pedestrian and bicyclist deaths and a historic spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) published its first-ever National Roadway Safety Strategy in 2022 – setting a goal of zero traffic deaths and adopting a Safe System Approach to achieve it. In explaining the Safe System … Continued
After successful adoption of an impressive Complete Streets Policy, the Safe Mobility Commission in Dormont, Pennsylvania is taking the first strides toward implementation through the installation of a new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB).
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) released final data for 2022 traffic crashes revealing 7,522 people were struck and killed while walking that year. This crisis isn’t new—pedestrian fatalities are on a consistent upward trajectory and have increased by 68 percent since 2011. We need strong leadership and swift, wholesale action to make our … Continued
As part of a technical assistance project to help local decision makers understand the needs for better mobility and craft stronger policies, I recently had the opportunity to visit and explore one of the great cities of the Midwest–St. Louis, Missouri. Like most American cities, St. Louis clearly demonstrates the impacts of design that prioritizes high-speed driving and punishes all other forms of mobility.