Austin Cuts Pedestrian Crashes At 16 Intersections ~50%

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Cutting car crashes, injuries, and deaths is a perennial goal in city after city and state after state. Little things get implemented to help, sometimes big things, but it’s never enough. It’s often a case of two steps forward, two steps back. However, the city of Austin seems to be on to something — for at least some problem areas.

At 16 problematic intersections, the city has launched a pilot program in which “quick-build” turn calming infrastructure has been put up.

As we all know, if we pull up to a big intersection clear of markings and obstacles, we are inclined to take that turn faster. Even if there’s a sidewalk there, it can be easy at such intersections to not notice them, because there aren’t queues to inform us that a pedestrian might be there. These kinds of infrastructure additions pictured above (crosswalks, colored bike lanes, pedestrian crossing islands, protected bike lanes) make drivers think about and notice pedestrians and bicyclists.

The results of Austin’s pilot program so far:

• 46% drop in crashes involving pedestrians at these 16 intersections
• 56% drop in crashes leading to injury
• 82% drop in annual crash cost
• annual crash-related costs (emergency response, medical expenses, damages, etc.) dropping from $3.7 million per year to $0.7 million per year.

Those are quite the benefits and savings!

This is part of Austin’s Vision Zero initiative. “The program’s 10-year report, released earlier this year, reviewed safety projects across Austin. Key findings include a 38% drop in fatalities and serious injuries at 29 major intersection upgrades,” Community Impact reports. “Austin’s Transportation and Public Works Department has added protected left turns at more than 130 intersections. Additionally, pedestrian crossing islands were linked to a 27% decrease in serious crashes.

“Since the adoption of Vision Zero in 2015, Austin has invested more than $1.3 billion in safety and mobility improvements through three voter-approved mobility bonds. Those funds have supported hundreds of projects, per the report, including:

• 29 major intersection improvement projects
• Over 500 pedestrian crossings
• 110 miles of All-Ages-and-Abilities bicycle facilities
• More than 320 miles of new or upgraded sidewalks
• Over 600 Safe Routes to School treatments”

Clearly, the return on investment for these kinds of safety improvements is enormous. It’s amazing what a few good city planners can do.