Traffic Safety Resource Center

Week in Traffic: More people are dying on the sidewalk. What will save them?

Pedestrian Safety

Traffic Deaths on the Rise On Thursday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that vehicular fatalities rose by 3.3 percent from 2011 to 2012. Pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists account for most of the increase. Traffic deaths continue to remain at a historical low. Read more. Source: LA Times Would You Pay $0.75 to Avoid Traffic? In an effort to … Continue reading “Week in Traffic: More people are dying on the sidewalk. What will save them?”

America’s Most Notorious Bike Path Gets a Facelift

Bicycle Safety

They’ve tried paint, signs, and $100 fines. Still, officials at Washington D.C.’s Department of Transportation (DDOT) say they can’t keep motor vehicles out of the median cycle track on Pennsylvania Avenue. So they’ve installed Zebra lane barriers (also known as zebra lane delineators). The European invention––an 8-inch-high hump of recycled PVC plastic covered in highly visible reflective “zebra” stripes––is widely used to … Continue reading “America’s Most Notorious Bike Path Gets a Facelift”

Week in Traffic: Is technology making drivers dumb?

Traffic Safety

You can’t underestimate their intelligence A recent study by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) discovered an upward trend among states battling tech-induced distracted driving. New measures focus on increasing educational programs and enforcement campaigns as well as updating laws for the changing “wireless” culture. Read more The latest culprit? Driving “selfies,” or self-portraits taken while driving, are increasingly popular … Continue reading “Week in Traffic: Is technology making drivers dumb?”

Week In Traffic: Innovation across the nation

Traffic Safety

Safety wins for D.C. cyclists with new zebra lane blockers Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC has become the first road in the U.S. to sport Zebra Delineators – innovative lane blockers available through Traffic Safety Store. These “zebra bumps” will help protect bicyclists from car collisions. After the initial testing phase, The District Department of Transportation will consider expanded use … Continue reading “Week In Traffic: Innovation across the nation”

5 things parents must do to keep teen drivers safe

Teen Driving

The number one danger facing teens in the United States is not drugs, abduction, or suicide — it’s car crashes. Over 3,000 teens die and many more are injured every year. Teen crashes happen with such regularity, in fact, the majority don’t make the news. This adds to a false sense of security among eager young drivers and their busy … Continue reading “5 things parents must do to keep teen drivers safe”

Week In Traffic: Focus on Teen Drivers

Traffic Safety

New campaign helps parents talk to teen drivers In honor of National Teen Driver Safety Week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) is launching “5 to drive” which provides parents with talking-points for discussing safe driving. The checklist focuses on five risk factors strongly correlated to teen accidents – texting/cell use while driving; teen passenger distractions; speeding; alcohol; and … Continue reading “Week In Traffic: Focus on Teen Drivers”

Despite what you’ve heard, highways are not doomed. 5 upsides for U.S. infrastructure

Infrastructure

$170 billion – That’s how much the United States needs to invest annually to save our roads and bridges, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). If that sounds like a dead end, consider this: We currently invest $91 billion per year on highway infrastructure. An $89 billion increase is a slither of the $trillion increase in overall infrastructure spending … Continue reading “Despite what you’ve heard, highways are not doomed. 5 upsides for U.S. infrastructure”

5 ways to support National Teen Driver Safety Week

Teen Driving

National Teen Driver Safety Week — held this week through Friday, October 26th – aims to build national awareness about safe teen driving practices. Created by the Federal Congress in 2007, NTDSW engages teens, parents, and teachers throughout the country and is sponsored by over 50 organizations — including State Farm Insurance and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – and is endorsed by the … Continue reading “5 ways to support National Teen Driver Safety Week”

Week in Traffic: Street fights, traffic monsters, and “grand-canyon” potholes

Traffic Safety

Truck drivers should pay extra to use highways, say congressional advisers The Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation of the congressional committee on transportation met on October 10 to discuss who should help fund the future of U.S. highways. The response was resounding: Commercial truck drivers. Jack Schenendorf, who headed the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission said commercial … Continue reading “Week in Traffic: Street fights, traffic monsters, and “grand-canyon” potholes”

Winter Driving Tips to Stay Safe On The Road

Traffic Safety

Driving during the winter is dangerous. According to researchers at Berkeley, the most dangerous day of the season is when the first snowfall arrives. Because people have not yet adapted their behavior to accommodate for more dangerous conditions, fatal crashes are 14% more likely to happen on this day than on subsequent snowy ones. Every year in the United States, the poor weather … Continue reading “Winter Driving Tips to Stay Safe On The Road”

Week in Traffic: Cycle Laws, Smarter Road Signs, and The Truck Driver’s Fight For Democracy

Traffic Safety

Should cyclist be registered too? Cyclists residing in Georgia my soon need to register their bikes with the state – or get fined up to $100. The proposed licensing law — which has been gaining interest in state governments including California, Michigan, and Ohio — would be the first of its kind in the country. In addition to requiring bikes … Continue reading “Week in Traffic: Cycle Laws, Smarter Road Signs, and The Truck Driver’s Fight For Democracy”

Week In Traffic: 5 ways the government shutdown can affect your commute

Traffic Safety

Better traffic? For years, officials at the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization in Virginia have been working to un-bottleneck one of suburban D.C’s most congested highways. Now, with furloughs effecting 15 percent of the road’s commuters, planners can study improved traffic conditions without spending extra money. The opportunity could allow them to make specific recommendations. For example, they may learn … Continue reading “Week In Traffic: 5 ways the government shutdown can affect your commute”

These 3 Government Actions Could Save Thousands Of Lives. So What’s The Hold Up?

Traffic Safety

In politics, everyone’s got an opinion: Should we subsidize school supplies? How should businesses be taxed? Should we legalize medical marijuana? These discussions seem to drag on endlessly. When it comes to traffic safety matters, however, debates can be a matter of life or death and the final decisions affect everyone. Every year, over 30,000 people die and hundreds of … Continue reading “These 3 Government Actions Could Save Thousands Of Lives. So What’s The Hold Up?”

The Week In Traffic Safety: September 27, 2013

Traffic Safety

This car sees danger so you don’t have too The Subaru Outback and Legacy recently received the highest honors from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for their auto-breaking system, “EyeSight.” During a controlled simulation, the camera-and-software enabled feature – 20 years in the making – avoided collision at a speed differential of 25 mph (the Subaru was going … Continue reading “The Week In Traffic Safety: September 27, 2013”

Law of Numbers: How Former Math Professor Jim Hedlund Helped Save Lives

Traffic Awareness

Statistician Jim Hedlund can see you while you’re driving. Well, maybe not exactly you, but a pretty good approximation. The Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) II – a study by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Hedlund consults on– has fortified the vehicles of over 3,000 subjects with advanced surveillance tools. These include lane trackers, speed recorders, … Continue reading “Law of Numbers: How Former Math Professor Jim Hedlund Helped Save Lives”