What Happened?
A new alert system is being tested in Maryland that warns pedestrians of approaching buses in an effort to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities. Major cities across the country are realigning their transportation strategies to place greater emphasis on pedestrian safety.
Talking Alert System
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is piloting a new alert system focused on enhancing pedestrian safety. The Safe Turn Alert solution is an automated voice system that notifies pedestrians bus operators and passengers of a bus turning a corner.
The automated voice system projects the verbal alerts from internal and external speakers so all individuals in the immediate vicinity are aware of the bus’ presence. When the bus operator turns the wheel at a 45-degree angle the Safe Turn Alert system is activated, projecting a warning message from external speakers to pedestrians. Simultaneously, internal speakers remind pedestrians on the bus to be aware of pedestrians when exiting the vehicle.
An external microphone measures the level of ambient sound outside of the bus and the system adjusts the volume of alerts accordingly. The pilot program will monitor any improvements in pedestrian safety after implementing the system, as well as the feasibility of installing the technology on all buses. The internal speaker volume is controlled by the driver. Similar systems are being tested in Cleveland and Portland as well.
Vision Zero in the U.S.
In 1997, Sweden developed its Vision Zero road safety policy that set the goal of zero traffic-related deaths or injuries by 2020. The aggressive strategy gained popularity in the United States when New York City adopted its own version a few years ago.
New York City’s Vison Zero plan was launched in early 2014 with the same goal of eliminating traffic deaths in the city by 2024. Since its launch last year, New York City reported 132 pedestrian traffic-related deaths, marking the lowest annual total in the past century. The initiative called for a variety of reforms including:
- Increasing precinct-level enforcement of speeding
- Widening parking lanes
- Installing an automated system to pause taxicab meters if they are speeding
- Lowering the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph
- Installing red-light and speed-tracking cameras that issue tickets
- Increased focus on jaywalking violations
- Suspending or revoking licenses of taxi drivers or livery drivers who kill or maim a pedestrian
In 2014, New York City police have increased summonses for speeding by 42 percent, and for failing to yield to pedestrians by 126 percent. The number of drivers given summonses for speed in 2014 was 117,000, up from 82,000 in 2013, The New York Times reported.
Taking note of the success of New York City’s Vision Zero plan, San Francisco also launched an initiative to eliminate pedestrian fatalities and injuries in their communities by 2024. According to The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency 18 pedestrian traffic-related fatalities and three bicycle deaths were reported in 2014, down from 21 pedestrian deaths in 2013, SF Examiner reported.
Injuries from traffic collisions also fell 15 percent from 2,703 in 2013 to 2,285 in 2014. However, many advocacy groups feel the numbers should be dropping faster. The city passed Proposition A and B to increases resources available to improve pedestrian and roadway safety. The propositions enable the city to leverage general-obligation bonds to fund transit agency projects, SF Examiner reported.
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