Road Safety

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths
Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

Houston Developers Question Mayor’s Stance on Pedestrian Projects
The new mayor’s reversal of road safety projects, some already underway or completed, is raising eyebrows among developers who say residents want walkable, mixed-use streets.

St. Paul Considers Drive-Thru Restrictions
Limiting drive-thrus can make streets more dangerous for pedestrians and snarl traffic.

Indianapolis Leaders Propose Vision Zero Plan
As of now, the city lacks a dedicated funding source for pedestrian safety efforts.

Utah DOT to Expand ‘Connected Vehicle’ Program
The state is testing a data-gathering system that could help improve road safety and alert transportation authorities to mobility trends.

Study: Bike Lane Prompts Reduced Traffic Speeds
Marking a bike lane with cones or other delineators can dramatically reduce driving speeds in adjacent traffic lanes.

Traffic Safety Efforts Chug Ahead — Too Slowly for Some
Around the United States, traffic deaths are growing or plateauing, yet efforts to make roads safer still face political opposition.

Video: Phoenix Sets its Sights on Vision Zero
The city hopes to eliminate traffic deaths in the next 25 years.

California Could Cut $600 Million From Active Transportation
Complete Streets advocates want the governor to fill the gap with funding from the state highway fund instead.

When Small Projects Make a Big Impact
Small, mundane infrastructure projects can make meaningful changes for pedestrian and bike safety.

Philly Mayor Proposes Major Cuts to Vision Zero
Despite promises to make the city’s roadways safer for pedestrians and cyclists, the proposed budget slashes Vision Zero funding nearly in half.

Study: Lack of Safe Infrastructure Keeps People Away From Active Transportation
Roughly two-thirds of respondents to an REI Co-op survey said they would ride bikes more if protected bike lanes and other safety measures were more prevalent in their communities.

Twin Cities Suburbs Look to Improve Bike Facilities
Communities around Minneapolis and St. Paul are working to build more robust bike infrastructure networks.

NYC’s Vision Zero Program Saved $90 Million in Medicaid Costs
While traffic fatalities remain far above zero, the city saw fewer injuries compared to areas without Vision Zero initiatives.

Detroit Metro Testing ‘Smart Road’ Tech
Sensors installed along a segment of Interstate 94 could help improve safety, limit speeding, and alert officials to potholes and debris.

New York City Plans Street Safety Projects as Congestion Pricing Nears
With congestion pricing projected to reduce the number of cars entering Manhattan, NYCDOT plans to repurpose street space to build more pedestrian and bike infrastructure.

Video: Zeroing in on Nighttime Traffic Deaths
Three in four pedestrian deaths in the United States happen at night.

Houston Road Safety Project at Risk
Mayor Whitmire reversed his support for a planned road safety project that includes lane reductions, putting $40 million in federal funding in jeopardy.

Portland Gas Tax Renewal Up to Voters
Without the extension, the city’s transportation bureau faces a $32 million shortfall.

NHTSA Finalizes Automatic Braking Rule to Advance Road Safety
New cars will be required to include automatic detection and braking technology for vehicles and pedestrians by 2029.
Pagination
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service