If you are here, you’ve probably asked “what can we do about these cars speeding through our neighborhoods?” We hear you!
There are lots of options. You will likely discover that the biggest challenge is not technical, but political. But your starting point has to be exploring the potential design changes that make a difference.
Our series on Building Safer Streets is where you can find information about the design elements that matter. These articles are for non-experts who want to know how to make streets safer in their communities.
For too long, communities have deferred to traffic engineers and experts who have prioritized vehicle speed over safety. Fortunately that is changing, both in evolving standards and in implementation. But there is a long way to go. If you are talking to traffic engineers or planners who tell you the status quo can’t be changed, we want you to have the best evidence to push back.
Each article stands alone, but we’ve written them to be read in sequence as well. Here is our guide to the series so far:
Part 1: Why Reducing Vehicle Speeds Matters to Pedestrian Safety
How the difference between 20 miles per hour and 40 miles per hour is a life and death issue for collisions with pedestrians.
Part 2. Speed, Tunnel Vision, and Reaction Time
Understanding the physical challenge for people to read and react to their environment when traveling at speeds above 20 miles per hour.
Part 3. How to Spot the Most Dangerous Roads In Your Community
Data shows that most fatalities and serious injuries occur on multilane arterials that bring highway design principles into a mix of community uses.
Part 4. How the Design of Corners Affects Speed
How a swooping curve induces dangerous speeds for those navigating crosswalks, and why a tight curve is a simple fix for safety.
Part 5. Narrowing Lanes for Road Safety: Small Shift, Big Difference
How something as simple as repainting the lines on the street to create more narrow lanes can reduce speeds and increase safety.
Stay tuned for more installments!
