The Top Five Ways to Slow Speeders and Protect Local Streets

Any battle requires a solid strategy, and when it comes to combating traffic fatalities and ensuring road safety, cities need comprehensive plans in place. After years of working with cities to help implement solutions for safer streets, Traffic Logix has found that there are specific steps that help cities create safer roads. Here are the top 5 strategies that we’ve found help cities to slow speeders down and keep everyone, even the most vulnerable street users, safer.

1. Understanding the Need for a Strategic Plan: While there are certainly cities that plan ahead, there are also many that work to protect streets only in response to tragedies or mishaps. Traffic fatalities and serious injuries pose significant challenges to safety and need to be addressed before they happen. Cities need a strategic plan in place to slow speeders down, prevent fatalities, and promote safe driving. These plans often involve collaboration between government agencies, transportation authorities, and community stakeholders.
2. Creating Complete Streets: Complete Streets implementation is a key component of strategic plans. The concept emphasizes designing and managing road infrastructure to accommodate all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. They may incorporate features such as dedicated bike lanes, interactive radar signs, speed cushions, or road narrowing. All of these elements help to create environments that encourage safer transportation and reduce the risk of crashes.
3. Enhancing Accountability: Effective enforcement helps to deter reckless driving and improve drivers’ sense of responsibility. However, enforcement doesn’t need to be traditional policing; elements like radar signs that encourage self-enforcement are a highly effective tool to slow speeders. Additionally, implementing technology-driven solutions such as speed enforcement cameras with automated warnings or citation systems can help enforce traffic laws and hold drivers accountable for their actions.
4. Educating the Public: Education plays a crucial role in promoting road safety. Public awareness campaigns that focus on educating citizens about safe driving practices, pedestrian and cyclist rights, and the importance of adhering to traffic laws are all effective ways to encourage safer driving. By raising awareness and fostering a culture of responsible road use, cities can significantly reduce the number of accidents and fatalities.
5. Harnessing the Power of Technology: Advancements in technology have paved the way for smart solutions that enhance road safety and assist cities in making better informed decisions. Solutions like AI powered data collection and intelligent traffic systems like data-enabled radar signs and speed cameras improve road safety and provide real-time data to drivers and cities that can be invaluable in making safer decisions behind the wheel or behind a desk.

By implementing comprehensive strategies that prioritize complete streets, enforcement, education, and smart infrastructure investments, cities can create safer environments for all road users. Together, we can make a difference in reducing fatalities and injuries and ensuring safer streets for everyone.