Our newest edition of Dangerous by Design has “design” in its name, but what do we mean when we say that street design is a large factor responsible for this epidemic of deaths?
Roadway design has a strong impact on how people drive and is often more influential on driver behavior than the posted speed limit. While speed limit signs may only be posted every few blocks or miles, the road’s design is ever-present, continually providing guidance and visual cues. While there are myriad factors involved in these deaths, our streets are designed to move many cars quickly at the expense of safety for everyone who uses them.
Let’s look at some real-world examples from one of the country’s most dangerous metro areas to show how our streets are dangerous by design, and why no one should be surprised that people routinely get killed while using them.
Typical arterial roadway design leads to the deaths of people walking