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In order to reach Vision Zero, engineering is a key consideration, along with education and enforcement.  Our community has created an ad campaign alerting pedestrians to the danger of walking while distracted (usually by use of a smartphone) but it's resulted in little change in crash and injury rates.  What are others doing to engineer a safer system?  We can't "educate" our way out of all crashes, but we're also looking for low-cost and fast options to improve the street conditions given that our budget is already stretched to the breaking point.

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Katherine Kortum P.E., M.ASCE
Washington DC
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Hi,

There are several options that others have implemented, two of these are included in this reply.

This city embedded traffic lights in the sidewalks so that smartphone users don't have to look up

Washington Post		remove preview
This city embedded traffic lights in the sidewalks so that smartphone users don't have to look up Few nations in the world take red traffic lights more seriously than Germany. Foreign visitors frequently wonder why crowds of Germans wait for traffic lights to turn green when there are no cars in sight. View this on Washington Post >

Dutch town installs traffic lights on the ground for people glued to their phones

Curbed		remove preview
Dutch town installs traffic lights on the ground for people glued to their phones The idea is that since the illuminated lines are right in the pavement, they'll be seen by texting walkers with their heads down. View this on Curbed >

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Maria Angelica Deeb P.E., M.ASCE
Transportation Projects Coordinator
City Of Mesa
Mesa AZ
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2017 16:37
From: Katherine Kortum
Subject: Vision Zero

In order to reach Vision Zero, engineering is a key consideration, along with education and enforcement.  Our community has created an ad campaign alerting pedestrians to the danger of walking while distracted (usually by use of a smartphone) but it's resulted in little change in crash and injury rates.  What are others doing to engineer a safer system?  We can't "educate" our way out of all crashes, but we're also looking for low-cost and fast options to improve the street conditions given that our budget is already stretched to the breaking point.

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Katherine Kortum P.E., M.ASCE
Washington DC
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