The United States has an exceptionally high number of roadway deaths compared to other developed countries, and the problem only worsens. In 2020, while traffic fatalities declined worldwide due to the pandemic, fatalities in the US increased.
Preliminary data suggests that this trend continued in 2021, with nearly 43,000 people dying on American roads. The rise in fatalities has been particularly pronounced among cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.
In this article, we explore the American problem of increasing roadway fatalities.
Reasons for America’s Poor Road Safety Record
One of the main factors contributing to America’s poor road safety record is its transportation system, which is primarily designed to move cars quickly rather than prioritize safety for people.
This culture is reflected in state transportation departments established during Interstate highway construction and in Sun Belt metros like Tampa and Orlando, among the most dangerous areas for cyclists and pedestrians in the country.
However, America’s history of highway development and dependence on cars cannot fully explain the rise in fatalities. In the 1990s, per capita roadway fatalities were higher in New Zealand, South Korea, and Belgium than in the US. The decline in fatalities in America and other developed countries can be attributed to a revolution in car safety that brought about more seatbelt usage, standard-issue airbags, and safer car frames.
While cars became safer for the people inside them, the US did not progress as other countries in prioritizing the safety of people outside them. Several developed countries decreased their speed limits and constructed more protected bike lanes. They also implemented in-vehicle technology that detects vehicle and pedestrian hoods that are less deadly to them. Roundabouts that reduce the danger at intersections were also designed.
In contrast, vehicles in the US have grown significantly bigger, making them more deadly to pedestrians and cyclists. Many states restrict the ability of local governments to set lower speed limits, and the federal safety rating system for cars does not consider what a car might do to pedestrians.
Government officials and safety advocates lament that so many deaths are tolerated in America as an unavoidable cost of mass mobility. But the illogic of this toll becomes clearer when Americans die in rising numbers even when they drive less and when there is an increasing number of deaths even as roads around the world grow safer.
The National Transportation Safety Board urges states to implement more stringent traffic safety laws and reduce speed limits to address this issue. The board also recommends that states increase their investment of pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure and prioritize road safety for vulnerable users. Additionally, the US government should mandate new safety technologies in cars that detect pedestrians and cyclists and protect them in the event of a collision.
Conclusion
Efforts to address America’s road safety problem have gained momentum in recent years, with more cities implementing protected bike lanes and lower speed limits. However, much more must be done to ensure Americans can move around their communities safely.
“By prioritizing road safety for all road users and implementing proven safety strategies, the US can begin to close the gap with other developed countries and reduce the number of roadway deaths,” says attorney Dan Christensen of DC Law.