Traffic Safety (1)
Good morning, Kyohei. Hey, you look cool in your new biking gear. You know, cyclists need to be extra careful in New York these days. The city streets have become hazardous for cyclists and pedestrians alike. I hear traffic deaths are at their highest level in nearly a decade.
Just as you say, Lidia, the streets are more dangerous than ever. Fatalities and injuries seem to have spiked, even though there was a big drop off in traffic during the lockdown and in the following months.
City officials say speeding and reckless driving are to blame. People were able to drive faster because the city’s perennial traffic jams disappeared at the height of the pandemic. Far too many drivers saw open roads as an invitation to engage in risky behavior like speeding and driving under the influence. “Driving faster can cause disaster,” as the safety slogan goes.
Back in 2014, the mayor of New York City announced the launch of the Vision Aero program. It was based on a Swedish model that’s aimed at eliminating traffic deaths. The city set up protected bus and bike lanes, which changed drivers’ behavior for the better. But we still need to do a lot more.
I hear that congestion pricing is coming to New York. Drivers who head into the busiest sections of Manhattan during business hours will have to pay tolls. I’ll be the first time that’s been tried in the U.S. Do you think that will help reduce traffic accidents?
Hard to say.
