An estimated 35,200 individuals were killed on U.S. roads in 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, which is the largest year-over-year percentage increase since national record-keeping began.
In San Antonio, the number of pedestrian deaths is higher than the national average. Crash data from 2014 shows 54 people were killed while walking in the city, and 124 crashes per day involved someone driving. The NHTSA designated San Antonio a focus city, prompting city officials to adopt the Vision Zero initiative in September 2015.
The loss of even one life on our roadways is unacceptable, according to Vision Zero's national effort to end traffic violence. San Antonio plans to achieve the goal by implementing the combined approach of education, encouragement, engineering, enforcement and evaluation. Will it be enough?
Guests:
- Mike Frisbie, director and city engineer for the Transportation & Capital Improvements department
- Shirley Gonzales, District 5 councilwoman
- Leah Shahum, founder and director of The Vision Zero Network, a non-profit campaign advancing Vision Zero across the U.S.