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Today’s #GOPCThread builds on a theme we wrote about last year in the spirit of #Halloween, #SpookyStreets and the threat they pose in communities across #Ohio
Late last month, @GHSAHQ in partnership with @USDOT announced that October would be designated as the first National Pedestrian Safety Month. This comes as pedestrian deaths have been on the rise throughout the country over the past 10 years. Image credit @yfreemark #GOPCThread
This year has been particularly bad for traffic fatalities. While traffic volumes fell 16% in the first half of 2020, @NHTSA found the fatality rate to be 1.25 per 100mil VMT, up from 1.06 in the same period in 2019 #GOPCThread #SpookyStreets https://bit.ly/35k1xsf
This trend is also playing out in the state of #Ohio. Despite traffic volumes being down, traffic fatalities are up YTD. According to the @OSHP, an increase in vehicle speeding is likely the cause for the deadlier year in traffic #GOPCThread #SpookyStreets https://bit.ly/37rqeWK
Speed plays a critical role in the severity of crashes. While less traffic can contribute to higher speeds, we also have to take a look at the design of our roads to understand why speeding is so easy on certain stretches of roadway #GOPCThread #SpookyStreets
Traffic speed results from the interaction between engineering, legal, and driver performance factors, though geometric elements of design play a role in influencing operating speeds #GOPCThread #SpookyStreets
https://bit.ly/2HnU434
https://bit.ly/2HnU434
. @USDOTFHWA defines different speed concepts based on road design and user decisions #GOPCThread #SpookyStreets
Too many streets are designed to either optimize operating speed or reduce driver risk, both of which can impact pedestrian & cyclist safety on the road #GOPCThread #SpookyStreets
Several design elements can be utilized to bring operating speed in line with designated design speed #GOPCThread #SpookyStreets
What design interventions can improve roadway safety? Last year, we blogged about the #SpookyStreets that exist in our communities, pointing out some of the more dangerous elements. Our Senior Research Associate (who is NOT a graphic designer) prepared these images #GOPCThread
Any time a pedestrian has to cross the roadway, their risk of getting hit by a vehicle increases. Clearly marking crosswalks with paint, lights, signs, or even raising the crosswalk itself, create greater visibility for pedestrians #GOPCThread #SpookyStreets
Roadways are designed to promote vehicular visibility to protect the safety of a driver. This sometimes comes at the expense of other road users. Presence of street lighting and facilities, like sidewalks, can increase pedestrian visibility to improve overall safety #GOPCThread
One-way streets were a popular intervention to improve traffic flow at peak hours into and out of downtown districts. The wide lanes and long blocks facilitate the movement of cars, but encourage speeding at off-peak hours, which endangers pedestrians and cyclists #GOPCThread
A short video by the World Resources Institute explains these and other people-centered changes that can improve road safety and reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions #GOPCThread #SpookyStreets
There is an added significance to designating October as Pedestrian Safety Awareness Month. A review of traffic fatality data shows that Halloween night is, on average, 43% more deadly for pedestrians than any other autumn night #GOPCThread #SpookyStreets https://bit.ly/2Te9FVS
The increase in the number of people walking on Halloween shows how poorly many of the existing roadways are designed for the safety of people walking #GOPCThread #SpookyStreets
Prioritizing driver safety has deadly consequences, evident in pedestrian fatality trends in the past decade #GOPCThread #SpookyStreets https://bit.ly/2TfRcYI
Speed contributes to overall roadway safety, but the rise in speeding this yr. occurs within the context of increasing fatality rates for pedestrians & cyclists. You can read about this concerning trend in a new book Right of Way by @schmangee #GOPCThread https://amzn.to/3kgF2Lh
. @schmangee notes that there are a wide variety of small solutions that can address our big pedestrian safety problems, like redesigning roads to reduce vehicular lanes, lowering speed limits, & changing traffic lights to better accommodate people walking #GOPCThread
Safe roads protect all roadway users, including drivers. A uniform, statewide active transportation policy, which we hope to see sometime in the near future, will go a long way towards reducing pedestrian fatalities and injuries in the state #GOPCThread https://bit.ly/37oALSr
From all of us at Greater Ohio, have a happy and above all, a safe, #Halloween #GOPCThread #SpookyStreets
