More public transit can cut city traffic deaths by 40%, says study

US regions with higher public transportation use can cut traffic fatality rates by 10-40%, according to a new figures from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). APTA analysis of recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Transit Administration data shows that metropolitan areas with public transit use of more than 40 annual trips per capita have up to 40% of the traffic fatality rate of metro areas with fewer than 20 annual trips per capita. APTA and the Vision
September 4, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
US regions with higher public transportation use can cut traffic fatality rates by 10-40%, according to a new %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external figures false https://www.apta.com/resources/hottopics/Documents/APTA%20VZN%20Transit%20Safety%20Brief%208.2018.pdf false false%> from the American Public Transportation Association (618 APTA).


APTA analysis of recent 834 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and 2023 Federal Transit Administration data shows that metropolitan areas with public transit use of more than 40 annual trips per capita have up to 40% of the traffic fatality rate of metro areas with fewer than 20 annual trips per capita.

APTA and the Vision Zero Network insist that fatality reduction also requires support strategies such as pedestrian and cycling improvements, commute trip reduction programmes, efficient parking management and transit-orientated development policies.

APTA has compiled a table of its findings: in first place, the New York-Newark-Jersey City Metropolitan area had 4.148 traffic fatalities per 100,000 residents and made 218.584 transit trips per capita. At the bottom of the ranking, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s fatality rate was at 7.247 per 100,000 residents with 41.910 transit trips per capita.

According to APTA, factors which increase public transit use include good walking and cycling routes. In addition, it emphasises high-risk groups like young drivers, old people and alcohol drinkers are more likely to reduce their driving if public transit is convenient.

The analysis also reveals public transportation modes which serve longer trips can help reduce total vehicle miles travelled and provide safety benefits to users. It stresses commuter and inter-city rail is 18 times safer for passengers than travelling by car.

Both groups are encouraging city leaders, public transit and traffic safety professionals to collaborate and utilise public transit systems to achieve Vision Zero’s stated ambition of eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

Vision Zero started in Sweden and now includes US cities such as Seattle, New York, San Diego and Washington, DC.

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • BESTFACT: Best practices for freight
    February 11, 2016
    The four-year Best Practice Factory for Freight Transport (BESTFACT) project collected, developed, evaluated and disseminated innovative ideas for city logistics, green logistics, co-modality and e-freight, has closed. A new handbook, which includes 157 sustainable best practice examples from across Europe, is now available. The aim of the project is to help reduce negative environmental effects, improve transport execution efficiency and present the positive results of such measures. The knowledge platf
    Read More
  • Flir traffic webinars in November
    November 12, 2015
    The Flir Traficon Academy has organised a series of free, one-hour informative webinars that will teach users more about keeping traffic flowing. 5 November: Vehicle and bicycle presence detector Flir ThermiCam/ TrafiSense is an integrated thermal camera and detector that can be used for vehicle and cycle detection. It does not need light to operate, but uses thermal energy emitted from vehicles and bicyclists. In this webinar, Flir shows how this works, how easy it is to install and to configure Reg
    Read More
  • Uber IPO ‘could be valued at $120 billion’
    October 17, 2018
    Uber could be valued as high as $120 billion if the ride-hailing company goes public, as expected, in 2019 – despite being permanently in the red. Major US banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have made valuation proposals to Uber, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal this week. This means the initial public offering (IPO) could be one of the largest in history – and Uber has yet to record a full-year profit. If the figure is correct, it would mean that Uber is worth more than three of the
    Read More
  • Transport Canada to enforce seatbelts on highway buses
    July 17, 2018
    Seatbelts will become mandatory on all medium and large highway buses built from 1 September 2020 in Canada, following new safety rules established by Transport Canada. The government department develops transportation regulations, policies and services. Marc Garneau, minister of transport, says: “By having seatbelts on highway buses, we can help reduce injuries in severe collisions, such as rollovers, and improve safety for everyone.”
    Read More

Highlighted Content