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Public Transit Use Can Reduce Road Fatalities Up to 40 Percent
Metropolitan areas that invest in public transportation can reduce traffic fatality rates by up to 40 percent, according to analysis released by APTA and the Vision Zero Network during a recent press event.
The analysis, Public Transit is a Key Strategy in Advancing Vision Zero and Eliminating Traffic Fatalities, found here, reveals that metro areas whose public transit users move from 20 annual trips to 40 trips represent a modest increase in public transit mode share but can provide disproportionally larger traffic safety benefits. On average, this increase would translate to people taking just two additional public transit trips per month.
The study also reveals that public transportation is 10 times safer than traveling by car and specifically, when traveling by commuter and intercity rail, is 18 times safer.
“It is essential that our elected leaders on all levels continue to provide strong investments in public transportation because of its extensive traffic safety benefits,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “We are partnering with the Vision Zero Network to encourage city leaders, public transit and traffic safety professionals to collaborate and leverage use of their public transit systems to move toward the goal of zero deaths and injuries on our roads.”
Leah Shahum, founder and director of the Vision Zero Network, said, “Every day 100 people die due to traffic crashes on
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| APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas and NTSB Member Bella Dinh-Zarr participated in a multi-city press conference call that discussed how metro areas with higher public transit use can cut their traffic fatality rate up to 40 percent. | America’s roads, and increasingly communities are committing to Vision Zero because they believe that everyone deserves to be safe on our streets. Investing in strong public transit systems helps communities improve safety for everyone on the roads.”
Also participating at the event were:
Bella Dinh-Zarr, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, who said her agency investigates transportation disasters of all types, but “by far, more Americans die on our roads than in any other mode. Public transportation is an important safety tool,” she added, “because it allows high-risk drivers, such as those who are drinking, fatigued or distracted, as well as those who are simply inexperienced or unable to drive for health reasons, to get around without endangering themselves and others.”
Polly Trottenberg, commissioner of New York City DOT and Metropolitan Transportation Authority board member, said, “Subways, buses and trains are the safest modes of transportation and serve to make the roadways in transit-rich cities like New York among the safest in the country. As New York continues to improve and expand our mass transit systems, we are also aggressively working toward the goals of Vision Zero—eliminating all fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways.”
Edward Reiskin, director of transportation for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, said his city is redesigning streets to achieve the “dual benefit of safety for all road users and increased transit reliability in support of our goals to eliminate traffic fatalities while increasing public transit ridership and mode share.”
Monica Tibbits-Nutt, a board member of Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, said, “Shifting trips onto public transit creates safer, healthier and more vibrant communities. Creating less conflict among modes and building the infrastructure to support it is fundamental to Vision Zero’s success. Giving dedicated access to transit vehicles is a major step in improving transit movement and keeping other modes safe.”
The latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 37,461 deaths from automobile crashes in 2016, a 5.6 percent increase from the previous year. In addition, these deaths cost the nation $871 billion per year.
APTA and Vision Zero will hold a webinar Oct. 23 to encourage collaboration among traffic safety and public transportation professionals in moving our nation toward zero deaths and injuries on roadways.
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