Philadelphia, PA – The City of Philadelphia is taking a stand against fatal crashes on its roads by implementing traffic calming measures. According to the city’s annual Vision Zero report released Tuesday, Deputy Managing Director Mike Carroll said that these measures are paying off with fewer accidents in areas where they have been implemented.
“Fatal and serious injury crashes and total injury crashes have decreased on Complete Streets projects,” Carroll said. “On Complete Streets projects, fatal injury crashes are down by 34%.”
Road diets, separated bike lanes, and neighborhood slow zones are all cited as ways the city has worked to slow down drivers and prevent fatalities.
The city has focused on installing projects on the High Injury Network, which includes 12% of city streets with 80% of all traffic deaths and severe injuries in Philadelphia. Mayor Jim Kenney commented, "People need to examine their own behavior and figure out ways of slowing themselves down and not being as reckless as people can be.”
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier added that traffic has slowed on Cobbs Creek Parkway due to speed cushions and other calming measures. Walnut Street from 4th Street to 33rd Street will also see freshly painted crosswalks, shorter pedestrian crossings, and fewer left-turn vehicle lanes to reduce severe and fatal crashes. The Streets Department is also supporting the Philly Street Lighting Improvement project by replacing 130 street lights with LEDs in order to increase visibility when the roads are most dangerous.
Sarah Clark Stewart from the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia endorsed the effort: “Making a concerted investment of people and capital dollars and taking on an intractable issue will have an incredible impact on public health equity and the city’s economy.”
