Road Safety

Traffic Safety Declining in U.S., Bucking Global Trend
While other countries are seeing fewer road deaths, traffic violence in the United States is back on the rise.

The Fight to Improve Tribal Transportation
Advocates for tribal communities argue that the bipartisan infrastructure bill does not direct enough money to tribal transportation needs, but USDOT and local leaders can ensure more equitable distribution of funds to projects on tribal lands.

What Is Bike Infrastructure?
Safe and comprehensive bike facilities play a crucial role in keeping vulnerable road users safe, promoting biking as an everyday transit mode, and reducing carbon emissions and traffic congestion by encouraging a shift to more multimodal transportation.

Asheville Approves ADA Compliance Plan
The city plans to make improvements to pedestrian infrastructure and bring its public streets into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Federal Government Pushes Collaboration on Road Safety
Guidance from federal agencies encourages states and cities to focus on pedestrian and cyclist safety, but the Biden administration has stopped short of any legally binding mandates.

Op-Ed: A Bold but Attainable Vision for Seattle’s Third Avenue
The editorial board of The Urbanist lays out their plan for a reimagined Third Avenue that plays to the strengths of the corridor while improving safety and transit service.

How Right Turns on Red Became the Norm
Born out of the oil crisis of the 1970s, the practice of turning right on red lights is a uniquely American—and uniquely dangerous—custom.

Study: Many Driver Assist Users Consider Their Cars Self-Driving
Almost half of drivers using Tesla and GMC driver assist technology report feeling comfortable treating their cars as fully autonomous.

Opinion: Make Safe, Slow Streets the Default
For people with disabilities or limited mobility, a lack of safe infrastructure can cause significant disruptions, delays, and safety hazards.

Opinion: California Jaywalking Law a Step in Right Direction
A new law doesn’t fully decriminalize jaywalking, but bars law enforcement from issuing citations to pedestrians when crossings aren’t ‘truly dangerous.’

Wildlife Crossings as Key Infrastructure
Animal-vehicle collisions cause billions in property damage, hundreds of human deaths, and dramatic losses in animal populations every year. Monitoring migration and building for animals can make roads safer for everyone.

What Is a Woonerf?
The woonerf, a type of road design that encourages multimodal transportation and blends pedestrian and vehicle space, was born as a reaction to the car-centric development that began dominating American and European city planning in the mid-twentieth century.

NACTO Fights Autonomous Vehicle Safety Exemptions
Two major automakers have petitioned for the right to test thousands of vehicles without major safety features such as brake pedals and steering wheels.

Will Autonomous Cars Live Up to Their Potential?
A new report details the promise and perils of the growing autonomous vehicle industry.

Ann Arbor Delays Right Turn on Red Ban, Citing Equity Concerns
The city council wants more information on how a ban on right turns on red would affect the city’s hourly workers and the details of its implementation.

Opinion: Traffic Calming Shouldn’t Be Optional
Road infrastructure that fails to make dangerous driving behavior feel risky to drivers is ineffective in protecting pedestrians and people on bikes.

A Legal Perspective on Transportation Safety
Legal scholars are showing how the federal government frustrates pedestrian safety.

El Paso Launches Vision Zero Planning
The El Paso City Council approved a resolution to move forward with Vision Zero planning and initiatives in an effort to eliminate traffic deaths on some of the nation’s most dangerous streets.

The Role of Segregation in Traffic Deaths
Research from Chicago suggests that the city’s traffic calming infrastructure is concentrated in the most affluent neighborhoods, contributing to higher rates of road deaths in lower-income neighborhoods.

Is ‘Protected Bike Lane’ an Oxymoron?
Some research suggests that separated and even ‘protected’ bike lanes actually increase the likelihood of car-bike collisions.
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