By Emiko Atherton, Smart Growth America, via Medium
\nMore people drove in 2016 than in 2015, according to new data released this week by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). Alongside that increase was a disproportionately high rise in pedestrian fatalities\u200a\u2014\u200aa trend that the authors attribute to increases in distracted driving and distracted walking.
\nThis analysis is wrongheaded, and blames individuals for what is a systemic problem. The way we design and build streets is a fundamental part of whether people can walk safely along a road or whether they are at risk for being struck and killed. Street design does not seem to be a priority for GHSA\u200a\u2014\u200abut it should be.
\nWe know street design is part of this problem because there are patterns to where fatal collisions occur. Heat maps of pedestrian fatalities show that pedestrians are struck and killed by cars at the same intersections and along the same corridors over and over again. Are people using cell phones more in these locations? I doubt it. Street design plays a clear role.
\nAnd if street design is part of the problem it needs to be part of the solution. Instead of blaming pedestrians, GHSA would do better to explore how state highway departments\u200a\u2014\u200athe groups they represent\u200a\u2014\u200acan make streets safer for everyone from the ground up.
\nReducing pedestrian fatalities needs a \u201cyes and\u201d approach. Should we reduce distracted driving? Yes. Should we reduce drunk driving? Yes. We should also change the way we design and build streets to protect people from fast-moving cars. Until that happens, it should surprise no one that pedestrian fatalities continue. This problem is bigger than our phones.
\nhttps:\/\/medium.com\/@SmartGrowthAmerica\/cell-phones-are-not-whats-causing-america-s-epidemic-of-pedestrian-fatalities-8ab944201249<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Emiko Atherton, Smart Growth America, via Medium More people drove in 2016 than in 2015, according to new data released this week by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). Alongside that increase was a disproportionately high rise in pedestrian fatalities\u200a\u2014\u200aa trend that the authors attribute to increases in distracted driving and distracted walking. This … <\/p>\n