Stop Murdering Our Kids
On Temple Street, where 34 people were killed or severely injured within 2.3 miles in eight years, a âroad dietâ expected to reduce crashes by up to 47% met backlash from residents and drivers. Local city leaders downgraded lane removals to things that wouldnât interfere with motor traffic: sidewalk repairs, new traffic signals and crosswalks.
Road deaths rose rather than falling, increasing 80% in two years. Then state legislators chose to increase speed limits on LAâs High Injury Network roads. [âŠ]
Policing is too often a major stumbling block for Vision Zero improvements â not least in New York, where 66% of fatal crashes were caused by unsafe speed, driver inattention or distraction, failure to yield, traffic control disregard or drunk drivingâ in other words, risk-taking behaviour by drivers. [âŠ]
âThe fundamental issue in America is that almost anywhere they try to implement Vision Zero, almost everyone in those cities drives. They arenât willing to be slowed down, they object, and the politicians refuse to do anything thatâs going to make drivers angry.â
[Altar] believes Vision Zero needs stronger wording similar to the Stop de Kindermoord movement in 1970s Dutch cities. âWe should rename it âStop Murdering Our Kidsâ âŠ
âLaura Laker, The Guardian[^1]