Dangerous By Design v Safer By Design
Dangerous By Design v Safer By Design Getting Around
"Our approach to building and operating streets and roads is directly contributing to these deaths," note the authors of , a report by and its initiative. "We continue to design streets that are dangerous for all people." The following illustrations are featured in the report to show the differences in a street that prioritizes the desire to keep vehicles moving — fast — compared to one that's safer for all users.
Streets with wide lanes encourage faster driving, regardless of the posted speed limit
"Slip" lanes were designed to keep vehicles from needing to slow down when making right-hand turns
Streets with wide corners create long crossing distances for pedestrians
Long distances between intersections encourage faster driving speeds
Streets without properly placed crosswalks leave pedestrians with the choice of either crossing unsafely or walking far out of their way to cross, especially when destinations are located directly opposite one another
Narrow travel lanes naturally slow traffic
Highly visible, signalized crosswalks make drivers more aware of pedestrians, and extended curbs shorten the distance required to cross the street
Decreasing the distance between intersections helps to reduce speeds
Adding signalized crosswalks in the middle of long blocks slows traffic and provides connections where people need or want to cross
Eliminating right turn "slip" lanes in favor of right-angle corners produces slower, safer turns and shorter crossing distances for pedestrians
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Dangerous By Design v Safer By Design
Too many roadways in too many places are too risky for pedestrians to walk along or cross the streets It doesn' t need to be that way See what makes a safer street
Between 2010 and 2019, drivers in the United States struck and killed 53,435 pedestrians — more than 14 people per day on average. Older adults, people of color and individuals in low-income communities are disproportionately represented in fatal crashes involving pedestrians. The reasons for the high rates, which have increased every year over the past decade, are many, ranging from public policy and traffic engineering decisions, to the elevated heights of trucks and some passenger vehicles, to the way the nation's roadways are designed and constructed."Our approach to building and operating streets and roads is directly contributing to these deaths," note the authors of , a report by and its initiative. "We continue to design streets that are dangerous for all people." The following illustrations are featured in the report to show the differences in a street that prioritizes the desire to keep vehicles moving — fast — compared to one that's safer for all users.
Dangerous By Design
Courtesy Smart Growth America 2021 Dangerous by Design Report Designing roads for high speeds dramatically increases the likelihood that a pedestrian stuck by a vehicle will be killed. For instance, at 40 miles per hour, 85 percent of crashes involving a person who is walking are fatal. (The numbers on the illustration correspond to the information below.) People between ages 50 and 65, and people over 75, are overrepresented in pedestrian fatalities caused by vehicles. Speed is the number one factor in pedestrian fatalitiesStreets with wide lanes encourage faster driving, regardless of the posted speed limit
"Slip" lanes were designed to keep vehicles from needing to slow down when making right-hand turns
Streets with wide corners create long crossing distances for pedestrians
Long distances between intersections encourage faster driving speeds
Streets without properly placed crosswalks leave pedestrians with the choice of either crossing unsafely or walking far out of their way to cross, especially when destinations are located directly opposite one another
Safer By Design
Courtesy Smart Growth America 2021 Dangerous by Design Report A roadway that's designed for all users is often referred to as a "Complete Street." (Check out the link below to see a close-up example of one.) The rates at which pedestrians are struck and killed by vehicles per 100,000 people: In urban areas: 1.6 In rural areas: 1.7 While it's important to lower speed limits, safe design provides drivers with added visual cues to slow downNarrow travel lanes naturally slow traffic
Highly visible, signalized crosswalks make drivers more aware of pedestrians, and extended curbs shorten the distance required to cross the street
Decreasing the distance between intersections helps to reduce speeds
Adding signalized crosswalks in the middle of long blocks slows traffic and provides connections where people need or want to cross
Eliminating right turn "slip" lanes in favor of right-angle corners produces slower, safer turns and shorter crossing distances for pedestrians
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See a slideshow of See an example of a Find AARP resources about , , and Learn more from about the Dangerous by Design report Data from Dangerous by Design 2021 Page published March 2021AARP org Livable
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AARP Members: For questions about your benefits, AARP The Magazine or the AARP Bulletin, visit the page or call 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277). Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures