Texas Leads The Nation In Traffic Deaths – These Proposed Laws Could Make Roads Safer

At least one individual has died on Texas roads every day given that Nov. 7, 2000. Despite efforts to “End the Streak,” because the Texas Department of Transportation puts it, the kingdom still leads the kingdom in site visitors deaths.
Fatalities did fall approximately 2% among 2016 and 2017, however, more than 3, seven hundred humans died in 2017.
A slate of payments geared toward making a dent in traffic deaths has gotten blended results on the Texas Legislature this 12 months.
Statewide Vision Zero Plan
There does appear to be some action on improved avenue safety efforts over on the Texas Transportation Commission.
Last month, the fee heard a presentation from TxDOT’s director of engineering and protection operations that indicated the company may be transferring towards a goal of having no site visitors fatalities in Texas with the aid of the year 2050. Austin adopted a so-called Vision Zero plan in 2016, with the goal of finishing deaths and serious injuries on Austin’s roads by means of 2025. Other essential towns have followed comparable plans, which intention to deal with the hassle thru better avenue layout, better enforcement of existing laws and schooling packages.
Washington nation was the first to adopt a statewide purpose of zero traffic deaths in 2000. Since then, more than 1/2 of states have set a 0-death aim. But Texas has now not.
“I’ve been operating on Texas transportation coverage for 15 years,” stated Jay Blazek Crossley, executive director of Farm & City, a nonprofit spearheading a street protection campaign called Vision Zero Texas. “I am taken aback and harassed about the progress we’re making.”
He stated he’s hopeful the fee will adopt a zero-loss of life aim at its assembly subsequent month.
Speed Limits
One suggestion that has moved along in the system on the Legislature might lessen the default velocity restriction on community roads in urban regions.
“If you observe just kids who are walking and cycling, greater children are hurt or killed on 30-mile-an-hour streets than another kind of street,” stated Blazek Crossley,
House Bill 1287, filed through country Rep. Celia Israel (D-Austin), might decrease the velocity restrict on roads that otherwise don’t have marked speed limits from 30 miles in keeping with an hour to twenty-five.
“This is ready saving lives, however, it’s also approximately saving money,” she said. Right now, if a community wants to lower the speed restrict on their street to under 30 miles per hour, the metropolis desires to do traffic examine. Under this degree, the velocity restriction in neighborhoods where there are no pace restriction signs and symptoms could mechanically be 25 miles consistent with hour, without doing a site visitors look at.
The invoice, which has bipartisan aid, has made it out of committee. It’s nonetheless waiting to get on the schedule for debate and a vote within the full House of Representatives.