Traffic engineers play a crucial role in promoting road safety and creating a safer environment for all road users. However, according to Wesley Marshall, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado, traffic engineers often overlook their responsibility for accidents and injuries on the road. In an essay titled “Traffic engineers build roads that invite crashes because they rely on outdated research and faulty data,” Marshall argues that outdated practices and faulty data are to blame for perpetuating unsafe road conditions.
Marshall challenges the prevailing notion of attributing accidents to “road user error” such as pedestrian, driver, or cyclist mistakes. While it is true that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found road user error to be the critical reason behind 94 percent of crashes, injuries, and deaths, Marshall argues that this perspective fails to address the larger issues at hand. He points out that blaming individual road users deflects attention from the role of traffic engineers, planners, and policymakers in creating a transportation system that favors car usage as the default option for most Americans.
To illustrate his point, Marshall cites examples where blame is unfairly placed on road users rather than those responsible for designing and maintaining the roads. He mentions instances where wide streets resembling freeways encourage speeding, poorly designed crosswalks result in accidents, and automakers produce vehicles with distracting features. In each case, the blame is shifted onto the road users, deflecting attention from the flawed infrastructure and vehicle design.
Marshall proposes several solutions to address these issues. He suggests reevaluating the interpretation of crash data and encouraging a shift in current thinking. Instead of focusing solely on assigning blame, Marshall argues that transportation engineers, planners, policymakers, and automakers should use crash data as insights into areas they can improve. By acknowledging their potential shortcomings, they can work towards creating safer communities and streets.
In conclusion, Marshall highlights the need for traffic engineers to recognize their role in promoting safety on the roads. By acknowledging the flaws in current practices and data, they can work towards implementing better engineering solutions. It is crucial to move away from blaming road users and focus on designing a transportation system that prioritizes safety for all.
