Those new bike and pedestrian lanes which are appearing on newly built and repaired San Antonio city streets appear to be paying off, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
City officials reported today that the number of people killed in traffic related incidents inside the City limits in 2017 was down sharply from the year before, at a time when statewide, traffic fatalities were up 10% to the highest number this century.
City officials credit Vision Zero. The new traffic safety education and engineering plan was introduced two years ago in an attempt to cut down on the number of traffic fatalities. It is Vision Zero that is behind all of those new bike and pedestrian specific lanes, as well as outreach campaigns like the 'A Life is Riding on It' effort to convince motorists to watch out for motorcycles.
Indeed, the biggest decreases in 2017 were in fatalities of bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcycles.
A total of 143 people died on San Antonio roads in 2017, down from 193 in 2016.
“I do believe the efforts of Vision Zero are making an impact,” says Art Reinhardt, Assistant Director of Transportation and Planning & Operations at TCI. “Our goal is to achieve zero fatalities on San Antonio roadways. We still have much work to do, but with engineering, education and our residents engaging in safer behavior, we can continue to see improved results.”
Vision Zero research also found some interesting facts about traffic fatalities in the city:
. One-third (33%) of all fatal and incapacitating pedestrian crashes occurred on 1 percent of San Antonio roadways, demonstrating that a significant portion of all severe pedestrian crashes are not happening randomly but rather occurring in concentrated areas.
Nearly half (49%) of the severe pedestrian crashes occurred over a six-hour period from 6 p.m. - 12 a.m., with the greatest number of crashes happening in the 6 pm hour.
· The majority (59%) of the severe pedestrian crashes took place during the fall and winter months (September through February). While more than a third (35%) percent occurred in October, November, and December.