The Road Safety Ink: September Edition

Take a look at the September edition of the Road Safety Ink, where David Roberts, the CEO of Verra Mobility presents his vision of smart mobility at the MOVE America 2022 Conference, Verra Mobility prepares for National School Bus Safety Week, and find out why experts say speeding is the new norm and how communities are combating this deadly epidemic.

Smart Mobility

Verra Mobility was a platinum sponsor of the MOVE America 2022 conference on Sept 27-28 in Austin, Texas. More than 3,000 attendees and over 100 exhibitors met at the conference to discuss new and emerging technology, industry trends, and solutions to transportation challenges. David Roberts, CEO of Verra Mobility, John Baldwin, EVP of Government Solutions and Steve Lalla, EVP of Commercial Services presented and participated in panels at the conference covering topics from each respective business unit while focusing on smart mobility with measurable outcomes.?

Learn more at MOVE America 2022

The Big Story?

Speeding is a dangerous ‘new normal’ on U.S. Roads, IIHS says

Engaging in risky driving behaviors – particularly speeding – has become “the new normal” since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to an analysis conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Key Takeaways:

1. Using 2019 and 2020 data from more than 500 Virginia Department of Transportation speed counters, IIHS compared the percentages of drivers who exceeded the speed limit from March through June.
2. Findings show that although traffic volume in the areas studied fell by more than 25% during the lockdown compared with the same period in 2019, the proportion of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by at least 10 mph surged 30%-40% on all roads other than rural arterials, which experienced little change.
3. On weekdays in spring 2020, the proportion of vehicles traveling 10 mph or more over the speed limit climbed 43% between 6 and 8:59 a.m., and 63% between 3 and 5:59 p.m.

“We can’t accept this increase in dangerous driving behaviors, we need to double down on implementing proven solutions that have been shown to prevent speeding, like automated speed enforcement and road designs that slow traffic.”

--?Jessica Cicchino,Vice President of Research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

First two intersections on Oahu getting red-light safety cameras

“What we want to do is make sure first we take care of the red-light running and second, potentially, adjust that speed that everybody is going through this community in.”

-???Ed Sniffen, Deputy Director of DOT Highways Division

>> Read the full article here

SURVEY: Majority of British Columbians back wider use of Speed Enforcement Technology

Since 2018, Research Co. and Glacier Media have asked British Columbians about automated speed enforcement.

Key Takeaways:

1. Most British Columbians have supported automated speed enforcement for years. In 2022, the most significant change is in the embrace of point-to-point enforcement.
2. The speed-on-green concept, already implemented in specific parts of the province, remains a welcome addition for more than seven in 10 residents.

>> Read the full article here

Back to School Safety

National School Bus Safety Week, October 17-21, 2022

What started because of a letter-writing campaign to President Nixon in 1969, has flourished into an impactful National Campaign highlighting school bus safety. Touching thousands of lives every year, National School Bus Safety Week takes place the third week of October. This year’s National School Bus Safety Week (NSBSW) is October 17-21, 2022. The theme is “Zero in on Bus Safety.”

Our goal during this week is to continue to educate the public on the dangers of illegally passing stopped school buses while children are onboarding and offloading. We hope you share and join us in advocating for safety. Please use the hashtag #NSBSW2022 when posting and sharing content so we can follow along. Your participation will help us provide a more memorable way to maximize our outreach efforts. Learn more about National School Bus Safety Week here.

Speed Safety

Sioux City Police say crashes are declining near new speed kiosks

“We are very pleased that we are seeing a reduction of people speeding on the roads there and we are seeing a trend down in accident reports for the areas around the cameras, which is the whole intended purpose of them.”

-??Jeremy McClure, Community Policing Sergeant

Alexandria Historic District most dangerous for pedestrians: Study

Law firm Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp looked at data on pedestrian crashes from 2015 through June 2022, finding over 10,000 injuries and 848 deaths throughout Virginia. In collaboration with data visualization firm 1Point21 Interactive, the law firm ranked 20 areas in Virginia “where pedestrians are hit both frequently and in close proximity to one another,” according to the study.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Alexandria Historic District was the only area in Alexandria identified in the study.
2. The area with the most areas dangerous for pedestrians was Arlington County with eight — Clarendon, Ballston, North Rosslyn, Columbia Pike corridor, Crystal City (Richmond Highway and 23rd Street), the Wilson Boulevard corridor, Court House, and Columbia Pike and S. Four Mile Run Drive.
3. The city of Alexandria has sought steps to improve pedestrian safety across the city. In 2017, City Council adopted the Vision Zero action plan, which seeks to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2028.?
4. The city has made progress addressing sidewalk gaps and in 2023, the city is expected to launch speed cameras in several school zones to record speed limit violations.

>> Read the full article here

Safer Intersections, Safer Communities: News Across the Nation

• Global: Strengthening Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems to Reduce Road Deaths
• Washington: Kent to Add Red-Light Cameras at Six More Intersections in 2023
• Washington D.C.: Reckless Driving Classes, Expanded Traffic Cameras Among D.C. Plans For Bad Drivers
• Washington: Getting There: Safe Driving Urged In Spokane School Zones As Classes Begin Tuesday

How have speed safety initiatives made a difference in your community? Let us know in the comments section.??

>> Have you seen it??Meet the Verra Mobility Solutions for Government website here . Explore the site to discover how our Safety and Smart Mobility solutions can help your community to build safer cities, roadways, school zones, and work zones.