City/County Safety Initiatives

Current Situation | National Perspective | Solutions | Benefits

Current Situation

• Injuries are a major health care problem and the leading cause of death for persons from age 1-44 - over 3 million are disabled in motor-vehicle related incidents annually. The cost of these injuries amounts to over $150 billion each year in economic costs and $15 billion in medical costs.
• Pedestrian safety in major metropolitan areas is a high priority. In 2000, there were 4,739 pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. almost 70% of these fatalities occurring on urban road systems. Also in 2000, there were 78,000 pedestrian injuries in the U.S. with over 80% occurring in urban environments.
• In many urban areas, traffic control and guidance signs are inadequate to move traffic safely and efficiently. Street name signs are too small and worn out to be visible and readable at the required speeds and by drivers, especially older drivers.
• Visual clutter - building lighting, advertising signs, street lights, vehicle headlights - common to urban areas, can more than double the time it takes for a driver to respond to a traffic control or guidance device.
• Another urban problem is "lost" motorists who waste gasoline; studies find that these drivers did not receive the expected information from directional signs and trailblazers.
• Drivers must make more complex driving decisions, i.e. complex, multi-lane intersections, one-way streets, parallel roadways, and heavy pedestrian traffic. Drivers, especially aging drivers, can become confused and make unsafe decisions.
• Traffic mobility and congestion mitigation are top priorities in many metropolitan areas.

National Perspective

• Initiated in 1996, the "Safe Communities" initiative addresses traffic safety concerns along roadway corridors and emphasizes engineering improvements to reduce crashes. It shifts focus to a community level.
• "Safe Communities" teaches people that motor vehicle injuries, the leading cause of death for people ages 6 to 28, are predictable and preventable; it suggests ways in which the community can analyze and reduce accidents along with their resulting costs and consequences.
• "Safe Communities" encourages police and highway departments to join with less traditional traffic safety groups, such as health departments, hospitals, EMS providers, business, rehabilitation programs, schools, courts, and insurance companies, to evaluate the causes of and solutions to motor vehicle accidents and injuries.

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Solutions

• Larger, brighter street name signs - with minimum 6" copy size – that can be seen by drivers farther in advance of critical turns, preventing "lost" drivers and moving traffic more safely and smoothly.
• Sign inventory and replacement - a systematic, on-going program to replace worn-out signs with highly reflective, highly functional signs - can help improve safety for drivers.
• Pedestrian crossing, school and bicycle zone signs made from fluorescent yellow green reflective sheeting provide advance warning that non-motorized traffic is in the area and more time for drivers to react safely.
• Wayfinding programs use special directional signs with distinctive colors and designs to direct visitors (and residents) to the city’s amenities, such as parks, airports, libraries, shopping centers, convention centers, tourist/historic sites, mass transit, parking, depots, and other points of interest.
• Highly visible pavement markings, which supplement these signing applications, are vital to guiding drivers safely and conveniently along city streets/roadways.

Benefits

• Increased safety day and night. Drivers of all ages see signs sooner and have more time to react safely. Crashes, injuries can be reduced, along with the resulting economic burden on the health care system and the community.
• Improved mobility/congestion mitigation. Drivers can determine where they are going well in advance and move efficiently over city or county streets.
• Improved emergency response, further improving safety and reducing the severity of crashes and injuries.
• Enhanced community image. Tourists and visitors appreciate the ability to find their way easily around the city. Their impression of the community is favorable.
• Energy savings. Clearly visible, readable signs means efficient guidance, fewer "lost" motorists and less wasted fuel.

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