How Traffic-Calming Measures Can Reduce Road Deaths

Communities have many inexpensive, proven ways to calm traffic and prevent serious crashes. Measures can range from using planters to tighten intersections to lowering speed limits. But government delays, funding challenges and red tape can slow implementation—and allow speeding to continue.

“There are so many moving parts,” says Laura Sant of the University of North Carolina Center for Highway Safety Research. “On the flip side, this means there is a huge opportunity to prevent injury.”

Traffic safety progress—and the obstacles that remain

The total number of deaths from road accidents has increased over the past century. In the 1930s, there were 30.8 deaths per 100,000 people, but the number of deaths has declined over the past decade. Historical traffic fatality data and research on pedestrian fatalities show the continuing importance of effective road-safety policies.

At the same time, Shaham says communities are becoming more aware of the important role that road-safety policies can play.

Hoboken’s Vision Zero success

One success story is Hoboken, New Jersey, where there have been no fatal traffic accidents since 2017.

The city’s approach combines greater investment in public transportation, efforts to promote walkability through longer curbs and cameras that help identify crash-prone intersections for redesign. However, obstacles remain. If an intersection has not yet proven deadly, persuading officials and residents to remove parking spaces and widen the curb can be difficult.

“It’s like selling insurance through these improvements, and it’s not always easy,” said Greg Francis, the city’s acting director of transportation and parking.

Why traffic-calming strategies do not work the same everywhere

There is no single traffic-safety solution that works everywhere. Located directly across the river from New York City, Hoboken is a transit-oriented city with a population of less than 60,000. Its success may not translate directly to traffic-fatality hotspots such as Memphis or Dallas.

But large, car-centric cities can make progress too. Edmonton, Alberta, has a population of approximately 1 million people. Between 2015 and 2020, the city reported that traffic fatalities decreased by 63% and serious injuries decreased by 40% after it adjusted speed limits and improved crosswalk signals.

Read Edmonton’s Vision Zero annual report.

Progress meter: 6/10

We know how to redesign intersections and adjust traffic lights. The bigger challenge is securing the funding and political will to put these traffic-safety improvements in place.