The U.S. is facing a road safety crisis. The number of traffic deaths and injuries has not budged in the past decade despite efforts to improve road safety. The data on traffic deaths and impacted demographics paints a picture of the current state of road safety, while proposed solutions and advocacy efforts provide a roadmap for the future.
Take a Look at the Numbers
While other developed nations improve their road safety and see a decrease in traffic fatalities and serious injuries, the U.S. sees the opposite. The number of fatal crashes has steadily increased for the last decade, and shot up during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, 43,230 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes, the highest number of traffic fatalities since 2005. Among those killed that year, 7,288 were pedestrians. While traffic deaths decreased in the years following this deadly peak, the number of victims still surpasses 40,000 annually.
Who is Impacted?
Traffic violence is seen in every state and impacts all demographics, but some groups are disproportionately affected. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S. and overall, young people (15-24 years old) experience the highest traffic death rates. Vulnerable road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, others sharing the roads with cars) are increasingly at risk, making up about 19% of all traffic fatalities. Furthermore, pedestrian death disproportionately impacts low-income and people of color.
Improving Road Safety
Various solutions have been implemented over the years to no avail. But in recent years, there has been a general consensus to adopt a Safe System Approach. As a holistic, human-centered framework, a Safe System Approach starts with the mindset that there should be zero deaths or serious injuries on our roadways. However, it acknowledges that people will inevitably make mistakes, so the road system (infrastructure, vehicles, policies) should be designed to make the impact of human mistakes less severe.
The Safe System Approach originated in Sweden and the Netherlands where it rendered impressive results. Both countries had at least a 50% reduction in fatalities between 1994 and 2015. The framework was successful in various other European countries along with Australia and New Zealand and in 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation officially called for the adoption of a Safe System Approach.
The 6 Core Principles of a Safe System Approach:
- Deaths and serious injuries are unacceptable
- Humans make mistakes
- Humans are vulnerable
- Responsibility is shared
- Safety is proactive
- Redundancy is crucial
Advocates for Safer Roads
A number of organizations advocate for road safety on the local, state, and national level. Every year on the third Sunday of November, advocates and the families of victims gather to honor the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR). Over 75 communities across the country host vigils, rallies, art installations, and memorial walks and bike rides to commemorate the lives lost to traffic violence.
Four dedicated organizations collaborate annually on the WDoR: Vision Zero Network, Families For Safe Streets, It Could Be Me, and Road to Zero Coalition. These nationwide organizations all have the common goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries, but engage their advocates in different ways.
- The Vision Zero Network convenes leaders across the transportation sector and provides a strong voice that advocates for safe mobility for all.
- Families for Safe Streets is comprised of members who have lost loved ones to traffic violence, or are victims themselves, bringing a personal dedication to support change at the local and national level.
- It Could Be Me uses the power of personal stories to drive change. Ambassadors are crash survivors or family members of those lost to traffic violence, and use their narratives to advocate for “an environment of mutual respect.”
- Road to Zero Coalition is an initiative of the National Safety Council in collaboration with the U.S. DOT. The organization shares road safety best practices through webinars, reports and dedicated partnerships.
Conclusion
As we confront the sobering reality of traffic violence in the United States, it is clear that a paradigm shift in our approach to road safety is necessary. A Safe System Approach offers a comprehensive framework for tackling this complex issue. By embracing its core principles and learning from the successful implementations in other countries, we can work towards a future where zero deaths and serious injuries on our roadways become a reality. The dedicated efforts of advocacy organizations and events like the World Day of Remembrance serve as powerful reminders of the human cost of traffic violence and the importance of continued action. As we move forward, it is crucial that all stakeholders – from policymakers to individual road users – commit to creating a safer, more equitable transportation system for everyone.
