Making Streets Safe

Speed Kills: Small-scale fixes go a long way to slow traffic.

Safety can be increased — for all road users — with modifications and designs that slow down vehicles, increase the visibility of pedestrians and bicyclists, and deter cut-through traffic and speeders — the bane of livability for urban neighborhoods and commercial areas. Traffic calming utilizes design strategies proven to reduce traffic speeds and consequently reduce the number of pedestrian deaths.

The tools can be small in scale, relatively inexpensive, and are easily tested and evaluated. Streets can be made safer by putting them on a “road diet,” reducing speeds and enhancing pedestrian safety. Techniques include signage, pavement devices and paint. Physically or visually narrowing a standard width lane by 1 foot slows cars by 7 miles per hour.