Traffic Safety
Did Advocates Overreact to Bike Safety Report?
When I read the subtitle to the recent GHSA bike safety report, "Adult Males and Urban Environments Now Represent Bulk of Deaths," I took an interest as I fit that demographic. I was surprised to read here about the dispute that erupted from it.
Lesson from Houston: Crashes Double after Red Light Cameras Removed
Red light cameras are usually controversial. In Houston voters chose to remove 50 cameras at high-risk intersections. Since then, crashes have increased 117 percent.
Dispute Over Bike Fatality Report
The Governors Highway Safety Association released a report titled Bicyclist Safety showing a surge in bike fatalities since 2010. The report provoked widespread media coverage and, also, strongly critical reactions.
Is there a Right Way to Measure Bad Driving?
There isn't one way to measure how badly groups of people (like, say, residents of New Jersey) drive, but there is plenty of data available about how driving often goes terribly wrong.
Intersection Designs that Prioritize Pedestrian Safety
Following the idea that pedestrian safety takes its cues from planners, Rachel Dovey's article on pedestrian safety lists six intersection designs that "actually prioritize pedestrians."
Bicycle Collisions, Fatalities Increasing in Boston's Suburbs
The Boston Globe crunched the numbers in a recent Massachusetts Department of Transportation report.
Traffic Safety Silver Bullet: Prohibit the 12-Foot Traffic Lane
Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City, argues that reducing the width of traffic lanes would be a panacea for the disastrous public health outcomes of traffic safety.
The 'Rule of Two' that Allows Drivers to Kill
An op-ed column by Dana M. Lerner, a New Yorker whose 9-year-old son was struck and killed by taxi while crossing the street earlier this year, explains the legal precedent that lets drivers get away with murder.
Speeding Camera Issues 6,000 Tickets in a Day—Is it Unfair?
After issuing 6,000 speeding tickets in one day, a speeding camera in Sheepshead Bay in New York City has already influenced driving habits. But some in the community are calling the location of the cameras a trap.
Cell Phones Fail the Eyeball Test for Public Safety
Citing anecdotal evidence from Montgomery County, the Governors Highway Safety Association, and China, a Washington Post article argues that cell phones are creating public safety concerns.
Mayor de Blasio Claims Early Pedestrian Safety Success for Vision Zero
Is it too soon for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to tout the success of Vision Zero?
Voters in Cleveland to Decide Fate of Automatic Traffic Cameras
In November, voters in Cleveland can decide whether or not to ban the use of automatic traffic cameras to catch red-light violators.
Hacking Traffic Lights with a Laptop
A study by computer scientists from the University of Michigan shows how easy it is to hack and control traffic lights.
As Crashes Go Unreported, Boston's Pedestrians Lose Out
The refusal of the Boston Police Department to report crashes to the state's Registry of Vehicles means that the city misses out on state funding to improve pedestrian and traffic safety.
Traffic Safety Requires a 'Psychological Speed Limit'
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed a bill this month reducing the speed limit in New York City. But what will it take to get people to actually slow down, especially when speeding is an acceptable social norm?
U.S. Bike Share: 23 Million Rides; Zero Fatalities
Despite all the dire—sometimes hysterical—warnings about the safety risks of bike share, the country's bike share systems boast a flawless fatality record. Compare that record with, for instance, driving or riding non-bike-share bikes.
How Safe is Biking while Rocking Out (with Headphones)?
Joseph Stromberg examines the question of how safe it is for bikers to wear headphones—a common practice for which there is no safety data.
How 'Share the Road' Campaigns Distract from the Real Problems of Traffic Safety
Following a close call on his bike, a writer questions the perverted logic of safety campaign slogans that share, equally, the onus for traffic safety between cars and bikes.
New York City's Crowdsourced Street Safety Map
As part of the Vision Zero initiative for traffic safety, the city has hosted a map system that allowed citizens to report safety issues encountered on the street. With the reporting period now over, you can still peruse the findings of the exercise.
'National Stop on Red Week'
The National Coalition for Safer Roads "is partnering with organizations and communities across the country to raise awareness about the dangers of red-light running during National Stop on Red Week."
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
