In 2020, New Jersey, Montana, and South Dakota became the newest states to legalize marijuana. Marijuana is now legal for medicinal purposes in thirty-six states and legal for recreational use in fifteen. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the presence of cannabis in fatally injured drivers is on the rise. In 2007, 8% of fatally injured drivers tested positive for cannabis, but […]
More and more communities are installing curb bump-outs at intersections with heavy pedestrian use. Bumpouts are also known as curb extensions, bulb-outs, or neckdowns. Bumpouts extend the curb into the street on both sides of the street at a pedestrian crossing, effectively making the pedestrian crossing shorter. Bumpouts keep pedestrians safer in three distinct ways. First, by making the distance shorter for pedestrians, they decrease […]
Ford has moved one step closer in its transition from automaker to a mobility company. It has recently partnered with Vivacity Labs, Oxfordshire County Council, and Loughborough University to develop a data-driven road safety tool. The tool was developed to help manage traffic. It analyzes information from connected vehicles, smart roadside sensors, and local data. The study’s goal is safer roads. Understanding traffic patterns is […]
Houston’s streets can be intimidating, with tons of busy intersections where accidents can occur. For example, did you know Houston’s most dangerous intersection is Beltway 8 and Bissonnet Street? 159 accidents occurred there in one recent year. That’s more than 3 per week! Additionally, as the 19 miles of Westheimer Road wind through the congested Midtown Houston area, its lanes become dangerously narrow. Booming suburban […]
From travel, to work, to entertainment, there is no doubt that Covid 19 has changed about every aspect of our lives. Health restrictions have caused more of us to stay home for long periods of time. Many of us now work from home, limiting automobile travel to the essentials, such as trips to the grocery, bank, and healthcare visits. Less travel means fewer people are […]
2018 was notable for one growing and depressing statistic. It was the year that pedestrian deaths reached their highest level since 1990. Even more disturbing, experts predict that these numbers will only continue to grow and that 2019 may have even higher rates of deaths of pedestrians and bicyclists. D.C. lawmakers have implemented multiple recent efforts to lower pedestrian deaths. These endeavors are supported by […]
Austin is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. In fact, this area has seen a 34.1% population growth from 2007 to 2017. But, with this increased popularity comes more cars, pedestrians, and cyclists. This leads to more street congestion citywide. Now, both city and state agencies are working hard to address these issues. Part of the solution involves maintaining and upgrading the infrastructure. […]
Driving through a school zone requires an increased awareness of both the road and your surroundings. This is particularly true before and after school hours when kids are most likely to be present. It is at these times that children are walking or riding their bicycles to and from school. Kids can also be on or around school grounds during recess periods and for gym […]
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than two people are killed each day by motor vehicle drivers running red lights. Most people would likely say that they would like to see better and safer driving habits. However, our actions seem to speak louder than words. The AAA study gives great insight into drivers’ attitudes and driving habits. As a result, we can […]
One of the most common dangers at a traffic intersection is a vehicle running a red-light. Solving the problem will involve a combination of education, enforcement, engineering and technology. The first step is to identify if an intersection has a problem with red-light violations. First, a municipality should conduct an engineering study. This study should be able to determine whether the red-light running problem is […]