This guide offers brief summaries of eight programs that measured their walking and bicycling numbers and found an increase. The resource aims to assist and inspire Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs to measure student travel patterns to look for possible changes over time and measure the progress of their activities.
safety
Road traffic injuries leading cause of fatalities among 10-24 year-olds
Among young people aged 10-24 years old, traffic injuries are the leading cause of death worldwide. Outdoor air pollution, largely caused by motor vehicles, is another leading cause of death. The problem is most pronounced in developing countries.
Safety-based Prioritization of Schools for Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Projects: A Process for Transportation Professionals (National Center for Safe Routes to School, 2012)
This guide describes a straightforward way to identify the schools and specific locations that have the greatest need for pedestrian infrastructure improvements around schools.
Keeping Seniors Safe and Mobile: An Evaluation of a Local Drive Test Option (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2012)
The current study evaluated the safety and mobility consequences of one of these initiatives: the offering of local drive tests.
New crosswalk technology improves pedestrian safety
Despite ongoing Congressional debates about funding for pedestrian facilities, some states are moving forward with new technologies to improve safety at crosswalks. New types of lights and crosswalk treatments aim to reduce the alarmingly high rate of pedestrian fatalities.
Dangerous By Design (Transportation For America, 2011)
Although nearly 12 percent of traffic deaths are pedestrians, little public attention – and even less in public resources – has been committed to reducing pedestrian deaths and injuries in the United States. This report outlines …
Why “forgiving roadways” are not the solution in urban areas
Roadway designers since the 1960’s have used the concept of “forgiving highways.” Due to its success in reducing fatal crashes on high speed access controlled roadways, engineers have been applying this methodology to urban streets in built up areas as well. However, this approach might actually make certain roads deadlier for motorists, as it encourages drivers to drive faster and less cautiously, and it has been shown to lessen pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
Pricing For Traffic Safety How Efficient Transport Pricing Can Reduce Roadway Crash Risks (Victoria Transport Policy Institute, 2012)
Transportation pricing reforms can increase safety in addition to other effects due to decreased driving. Download the report.
Safety advocates still waiting for FHWA report on digital billboards
Although much as been written about distracted driving, little attention has been paid to the distractions outside the car, such as digital billboards which flash or change messages. States and cities are free to regulate such signs on their roadways, but many are waiting for the release of a long-delayed federal report.
Promoting Bicycle Commuter Safety (Mineta Transportation Institute, 2012)
This report examines the “five Es” for increasing bicycle commuter safety, but focuses on education and engineering. Case studies from California and Portland, OR give first hand information about bicycle safety. Download the full report.