The United States is seeing a sharp rise in the number of pedestrian fatalities, according to a recent report from the Governors Highway Safety Association. Nearly 300 pedestrians were killed on Texas roads in the first half of 2018.
Speeding, impaired or distracted driving, and even a vehicle's size are identified as some crash factors. What other circustances put a pedestrian – or a driver – at risk?
Texas, Arizona, California, Florida and Georgia represent 33 percent of the nationwide population, but account for 46 percent of the country's pedestrian deaths.
Can state and local regulations find infrastructure solutions for the issue? In what ways can law enforcement and initiatives like Vision Zero work together to reverse the trend?
What can the community do to protect pedestrians and prevent future incidents?
Guests:
- San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus
- Gregory Reininger, principal transportation planner for the City of San Antonio's Transportation and Capital Improvements Department, and spokesperson for Vision Zero San Antonio
- Richard Retting, researcher and author of the Governors Highway Safety Association's "Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities" 2018 report
- Shirley Gonzales, San Antonio City Council representative for District 5
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This interview aired on Monday, March 18, 2019.