Drivers Killed the Most Pedestrians & Cyclists in 30 Years
Traffic fatalities are finally on the decline. But pedestrian and cyclist deaths definitely aren’t. With more walkers and bikers killed in 2019 than in any one year since 1990, it’s time for change. How can these crashes be avoided? Can Vision Zero programs and funding help? Can pedestrian deaths actually be eliminated or is that just an idealistic dream?
Is Zero Deaths Unattainable?
If you’re a police officer and a firsthand witness to the horror of pedestrian and cyclist deaths, you know how critical it is for something to change on our streets. But can these deaths actually be eliminated? While some see Vision Zero as a dream, one city actually made it a reality. While cyclist and pedestrian deaths keep going up in US cities, in Oslo, Norway they’ve gone, completely. The city saw zero pedestrian deaths and zero cyclist deaths in 2019. Read more about how they made their streets safer here.
Are Safer Streets Expensive? How About Free?
A bill proposed in late 2019 called The Vision Zero Act of 2019 would make federal funding available for communities like yours to put solutions in place to protect pedestrians and improve street safety. Instead of demanding a new funding stream from the federal government, the law would steer funds from programs like the Highway Safety Improvement Program and the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program toward protecting human lives on your streets.
Stop Pedestrian Deaths- One Street at a Time
You can stop the terrifying trend of pedestrian and cyclist deaths by improving safety on your streets. And that doesn’t have to mean increased enforcement, which can be challenging to police departments with tight schedules and multiple responsibilities. Tools like radar speed signs, photo enforcement, and speed cushions can help reduce speeds. Lower speeds make crashes less likely- and survival more probably when accidents do occur. Let’s make 2020 safer for everyone, one street at a time.
