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 […]
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 […]
Texas provides detailed car accident statistics. The statistics summarized in this overview come from the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) in 2021. They use crash reports to tell you where, when, and how accidents happen in Austin. Based on this information, you can develop a full picture of Austin’s road safety. Austin has a mixed record when it comes to road safety. On the one […]
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 […]
Thousands of traffic accidents happen across the nation every day. Most of these accidents can be attributed to driver negligence. However, drivers aren’t always to blame. Unsafe and dangerous road conditions contribute to a staggering number of car accidents every year. As a result, thousands of drivers, passengers, and bystanders suffer injuries through no fault of their own. Instead, they’re forced to struggle with painful […]