GETTING HOME SAFELY: STATEGIES TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER FOR MOTORISTS, PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS

Every day Americans travel 7.5 billion miles in their communities, mostly in cars and trucks, but also by foot or on bicycle. Unfortunately, an average of 44 Americans are killed every day in urban traffic accidents. These accidents are often caused by mistakes made by travelers or poor roadway conditions. Improving the design and condition of urban roadways is an effective strategy to reduce traffic fatalities. This report looks at the latest urban traffic fatality data in the nation's largest 50 urban areas from 2000, the unique characteristics of these fatalities and at a comprehensive set of steps that can be taken to reduce traffic deaths in our communities. The key findings of the report are: 1) Urban traffic fatalities claimed 15,947 lives in 2000. 2) Traffic fatalities which occur in urban communities are more likely than traffic fatalities in rural areas to occur at lower speeds and to be of pedestrians or bicyclists. The report also lists 7 steps to improve motorist safety, and 3 steps to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety. The steps include, among others, road improvements, better winter maintenance of roads, installation of pedestrian signals and marked crosswalks, installation of bicycle lanes, and more sidewalks.

• Corporate Authors:

  The Road Information Program

  1726 M Street, NW, Suite 401
  Washington, DC  United States  20036
• Publication Date: 2001-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 15 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycle crashes; Bicycle lanes; Communities; Crosswalks; Cyclists; Fatalities; Highway safety; Improvements; Pedestrian actuated controllers; Pedestrian safety; Pedestrian vehicle crashes; Roads; Sidewalks; Snow and ice control; Speed; Strategic planning; Traffic crashes; Traffic safety; Urban areas
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00922883
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 8 2002 12:00AM