Too many pedestrians and cyclists are killed by cars. There are solutions

For too long, society accepted that death was a fact of life on the roads. It was the cost of convenience to move from A to B as fast as possible in a car. We call crashes “accidents,” even when the causes, from driver speed to road design, are deliberate choices. It’s a cultural problem that such incidents are viewed as ordinary.

Cities must redouble their efforts to make change happen.

The primary problem is drivers driving too fast, typically on roads built in such a way to encourage speed. Cities across the country have taken the initial steps to reduce some speed limits. Automated enforcement is an important tool. Research shows it slows drivers down. Edmonton is a leader.

A hefty ticket is only a part of the answer. Redesigning roads, such as narrowing lanes, widening sidewalks and adding bike lanes, bolsters safety for all road users. At intersections, so many of them dangerous, tools such as raised crosswalks and pedestrian priority work. Ending rights on red is another move. And stripping out so-called slip lanes, which enable cars to speedily turn on highway-like curves rather than at an intersection’s right angle, is essential.

Too many pedestrians and cyclists are killed by cars. There are solutions – Globe & Mail, July 31, 2024