Road safety
Traffic accidents eating into developing world’s growth
Traffic accidents kill well over a million people each year throughout the world, with higher rates in poorer countries. That number, while already quite high, is expected to triple to about 3.6 million per year, according to a SmartPlanet, a tech and business blog. A study conducted by the Pulitzer Center suggests that developing countries […]
Pedestrians or trespassers? Railroad fatalities skyrocket
New data released by the federal government tells an unfortunate story about railroad fatalities: Specifically, the number of pedestrians struck and killed by trains throughout the country has increased by 26 percent over the first five months of this year. Pedestrian railroad deaths climbed to 199 in that timeframe, a rise from 158 pedestrians killed […]
Train crash in Spain leads to calls for federal distracted driving laws in US
A train collision in Spain that killed 79 people – due to the operator talking on his cell phone – has pushed the U.S. to consider its own distracted driving policies. A Center for Disease Control and Prevention study reveals that distracted driving is a bigger problem in the U.S. than in Europe. Around one […]
The quiet evolution of the one way sign
One way streets are valuable assets in any city – pedestrians need to know where the cars are coming from, and if everyone obeys the rules, there are fewer accidents. The overall history and evolution of signs is a fascinating subject (we think), and there is no sign more taken for granted than the one […]
A history of bicycle safety: re-inventing two wheels
The Growth of Bike Safety Initiatives While biking is fun and healthy, it’s important to remember bicycle safety rules. In 2011, there were 38,000 injuries from bicycle/vehicle crashes in the U.S. Even in a completely bike-only area, one could fall and sustain a head injury. This has prompted the promotion of bike helmets in many countries; it […]
A history of the silent nag: the yield sign
Motorists slow down and look around cautiously when they see a yield sign. But they don’t wonder how that sign got there in the first place. The yield sign, an unsung hero, has actually been saving lives since 1950, when the first sign was placed at the corner of First Street and Columbia Avenue in […]
Motorcyclist fatality sheds light on dangers of moose crossings
A motorcyclist was killed, and his passenger left in critical condition, after hitting a moose crossing Alaska’s Glenn Highway last week. As unusual as the accident may sound to urban dwellers, vehicle accidents involving moose are relatively common in Alaska, which has a high population of both moose and motorcyclists. In fact, Alaska has more […]
In CA, bike lanes are on drivers’ wishlists
Surveys in San Francisco and Los Angeles suggest that both drivers and cyclists want separate space for bicycles. This separate space in the form of bike lanes not only protects cyclists from automobile traffic, but also makes drivers feel safe around bicycles. This insight could prove useful for city planners who are often blamed for […]
Driving fatigue causes one in five crashes
A recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) shows that 20% of car crashes result from drivers’ fatigue. The study also found that young drivers were more likely to crash if they drove while fatigued. The study is significant, as earlier estimates held that fatigue was responsible for just 2–3 percent of crashes. Charlie […]
The grim reality of high speed police chases in LA
Whether or not they manage to nab the suspects is a different story, but the LAPD’s high-speed chases are becoming increasingly life-threatening. Hot police-suspect pursuits abruptly disrupt the traffic, often resulting in accidents and injuring everyone involved, even bystanders and pedestrians. The latest victim, 23-year-old college student Julio Reyes, was killed in the midst of […]
