The city of Phoenix is trying to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries through the Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan. The plan seeks to analyze data to make Valley streets safer.
As part of the initiative, officials monitor intersections and other areas where serious fatal and injury crashes commonly occur. The name vision zero comes from the ultimate goal to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries due to traffic accidents.
Ed Hermes is the chairman of Phoenix’s Vision Zero Street Safety Committee. Speaking on PBS’ "Arizona Horizon," he said the city has some of the most dangerous streets in the country with about 200 people dying in crashes every year.
“It tells me that we need to engineer our streets better. We need to design our streets better because they’re becoming more dangerous," he said.
Hermes says as cars get heavier and drivers are more distracted than ever, he thinks one way to address the issue is to separate pedestrians and cyclists from heavy traffic.
“In the city of Phoenix, you’ve probably seen some of these areas where we’ve created buffers between pedestrians and cyclists on the one side and cars on the other. We know they work because the statistics show they do," Hermes said.
-
If you find yourself behind the wheel when a dust storm or heavy rain hits, the Arizona Department of Transportation recommends pulling over until visibility improves. -
The concerts will take place over three different days on Valley Metro’s B Line and will feature music from the Phoenix Symphony, the Herberger Theater Center and Rosie’s House, a music academy for children. -
The union that represents Sun Tran bus and streetcar drivers, ratified a three-year collective bargaining agreement this week following a union vote in June to authorize a strike. -
Downtown Phoenix has finally happened. Condo towers, restaurants, entertainment venues and retail establishments now occupy once-empty lots. And there’s nowhere to park — the sure sign of a thriving metropolis. But, can Phoenix ever be walkable? -
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is demanding that automated vehicle developers keep their tech from interfering with police and firefighting activity.
