Traffic Safety

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Protected Bike Lane Los Angeles

Caltrans Releases Complete Streets Action Plan

The agency’s detailed list of actions highlights the many changes needed to truly implement Complete Streets principles into California road construction and maintenance.

July 19, 2022 - Streetsblog California

Pedestrian Signal

The Push To Decriminalize Jaywalking

Supporters of decriminalization argue that jaywalking laws don’t keep pedestrians safe and disproportionately burden Black and brown communities with fines.

July 19, 2022 - Stateline

Pedestrian crossing street with cars in background and "Dangerous by Design 2022" white font

Dangerous By Design: 2022 Report Analyzes Rising Pedestrian Deaths

The report ranks the most dangerous states and metro areas for pedestrians, who died at higher rates during the pandemic despite reduced driving.

July 12, 2022 - Smart Growth America

The Griffith Observatory is perched on a hill above Los Angeles, with the city's downtown shown int he distant background. Griffith Park's rolling hills and winding roads are shown in the foreground.

Los Angeles to Test Road Closure Through Scenic Griffith Park

After a driver killed a cyclist on Griffith Park Drive in April, the city of Los Angeles is studying safety upgrades on streets in its famous park. The L.A. Times says the changes are part of a growing movement.

July 12, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Blurry speeding cars on an urban road

Federal Agency To Launch Anti-Speeding Initiative

With traffic deaths rising around the country, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is moving to address speeding and regulate autonomous vehicles.

July 10, 2022 - Reuters

20 miles per hour speed limit sign in school zone

San Jose Begins Lowering Speed Limits

Thanks to a state bill, California cities can reduce speed limits on city streets by 5 miles per hour to improve traffic safety.

July 6, 2022 - San José Spotlight

25mph speed limit sign with blurred street with car and palm trees in background

Why Not Hold Traffic Safety to the Same Standards as Transit?

Many transportation modes, such as trains and airplanes, have robust, system-wide response mechanisms to investigate safety concerns when incidents occur. Why is traffic safety still seen largely as an individual responsibility?

July 6, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington

Chicago Transit Authority

Did Chicago’s Speed Cameras Improve Safety? [UPDATED]

Advocates of automated enforcement argue it saves lives, but despite a dramatic rise in speeding tickets, pedestrian fatalities grew in 2021.

July 5, 2022 - WBEZ

SR-99 on-ramp in Seattle

Seattle Traffic Deaths Rose Again in 2022

Despite a commitment to eliminating traffic deaths by 2030, 2022 is shaping up to be the deadliest year in more than a decade.

June 22, 2022 - The Seattle Times

The interior of a Tesla, with a large video screen. The person behind the wheel is touching the screen.

How Safe Are Autonomous Vehicles?

Federal regulators are just starting to gain an understanding of how vehicles with automation systems impact traffic safety.

June 17, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

Traffic Safety

Cities Call Out States for Blocking Traffic Safety Progress

The National League of Cities went to Congress and called on states to stop focusing on vehicle throughput and start prioritizing traffic safety.

June 15, 2022 - Route Fifty

A Downtown Louisville street at night, with the lights of passing shown with a blurred effect.

Louisville Slowly Working Toward Vision Zero Commitment

If approved, an ordinance under consideration in Louisville would commit to eventually eliminate traffic fatalities…20 years in the future.

June 14, 2022 - WFPL

Two bicyclists on a street in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis Revises Complete Streets Ordinance

After the death of a well-known Indianapolis cyclist and growing pedestrian death rates, the city expanded on its 2012 Complete Streets ordinance to highlight equity and renew efforts to make streets safer.

June 9, 2022 - Indianapolis Star

Racing Cars

Let’s End Traffic Stops

The technology to make traffic enforcement obsolete is becoming available. But in the U.S. willing to use it?

June 6, 2022 - Angie Schmitt

Google Maps street view of Roosevelt Boulevard, Philadelphia

Philadelphia Seeks Federal Funding to Improve One of its Deadliest Streets

Local officials hope to use federal infrastructure funding to make safety improvements on Roosevelt Boulevard, where more than a tenth of the city’s traffic deaths happen.

June 5, 2022 - Insurance Journal

View of Washington Avenue, Phialdelphia

Washington Avenue Road Diet Less Likely

After one city councilmember refused to advocate for changing parking rules in his district, Philadelphia’s Washington Avenue could end up with two different safety configurations.

May 31, 2022 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

A row of white pickup trucks at a car dealership.

Want to Drive a Big Pickup Truck in D.C.? It’s About to Get (Even More) Expensive

D.C. is considering a $500 vehicle license fee for private vehicles over 6,000 pounds.

May 27, 2022 - Bloomberg

Denver, Colorado

Denver Freeway Widening Plans on Hold

The Colorado Department of Transportation’s plan to widen the Interstate 25 freeway through Denver is one of a few plans to widen urban freeways under consideration in the United States.

May 23, 2022 - The Colorado Sun

Traffic Safety Advocates

Traffic Fatalities Set Records as Pandemic-Era Road Carnage Shows No Signs of Stopping

An estimated 42,915 people died in automobile crashes in 2021, according to recent federal data. The increasing fatalities continue a trend that began with the outset of the pandemic.

May 17, 2022 - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Chicago Commute

Planning for Congestion Relief

The third and final installment of Planetizen's examination of the role of the planning profession in both perpetuating and solving traffic congestion.

May 12, 2022 - James Brasuell

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