Traffic Fatalities

Chicago is Already Experiencing Issues with E-Scooters

July 1, 2019 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Within its first week as part of a 4-month long pilot program, Chicagoans took over 60,000 rides on the city’s new e-scooters throughout various neighborhoods of city. Since its unveiling, there has already been a large number of complaints regarding the scooters. The city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) alone has received 45 complaints since the program first began. With that being said, it’s not as if the complaints aren’t valid. Many in Chicago are seeing scooters piled up on sidewalks, forcing pedestrians to weave throughout foot traffic. In a city of three million people, issues such as these, which may seem small at the moment, exacerbate the problem. Based on the Chicago Department of Transportation’s “E-Scooter Do’s & Don’ts,” riders are instructed to “park scooters with care.” Unfortunately, with no clear oversight due to such a high volume of pedestrian, bike, and auto traffic already in the fold, scooters may just be too difficult to track and regulate.

As the media has been reporting throughout the United States regarding cities entering pilot programs, it has become clear Chicago is not alone. Unfortunately, some of the cities that have been experiencing major issues, accidents, and even fatalities, have far stricter rules than Chicago. The only mandate in Chicago is placed on the time of day a person may ride the scooters and specific areas where riding is banned. However, if you do decide to take the plunge and try out Chicago’s new e-scooter program, be smart about it and possibly take some training courses. Lime, one of the e-scooter providers for Chicago’s pilot program, is offering “First Ride Academy” courses, which aim to provide first-time riders with scooter safety information and tips on how to park scooters responsibly throughout the city. Details on the courses can be found below:

Location: West Palmer Square Chicago, IL 60647

Dates: Every Saturday, June 29 – July 27

Tickets: Click here

A growing trend

As overall interest in scooters has grown, there has clearly been a rise in the number of accidents and injuries, as expected. However, after seeing such a high number of fatalities increase as a result of these scooters, cities must ask if it is worth the risk. As reported at the beginning of June, “there are no comprehensive statistics available but a rough count by the Associated Press of media reports turned up at least 11 electric scooter rider deaths in the U.S. since the beginning of 2018. Nine were on rented scooters and two on ones the victim owned.” The issue with the scooters is not that they are available for residents to use, it’s the fact that they are not heavily regulated, and they are not essential for transportation needs. Cities like Chicago already have established public transportation and bike systems to allow for individuals to safely navigate the city. These pilot programs force cities to integrate an entirely new mode of transportation on a mass scale into an already developed daily practice of commuting for millions of people.

Injuries are frequent

Although it appears the fatalities and injuries sustained from these recent accidents are outliers, new reports are showing scooter injuries to be much more prevalent than we thought. Earlier this month, U.S. News reported a new study conducted by the American Journal of Otolaryngology finding an increase of head injuries from riding electric scooters across the United States. According to U.S. News, “between 2008 and 2017, nearly 32,000 injuries were estimated nationwide, according to a review of records in the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance system. Accidents tripled from about 2,300 in 2008 to nearly 7,000 in 2017.” Not surprisingly, the most common injuries were concussions and brain bruising; however, this was largely due to the fact that 66% of the people injured failed to wear a helmet. What this information is telling us is that if cities fail to mandate certain safety equipment for riding scooters, the riders will not bother to wear helmets. Unfortunately, the injuries from these scooter crashes can be far more devastating. Though scooter riders in Chicago are limited to the bicycle lane, they can reach speeds of 15mph. Not requiring individuals to wear helmets under those circumstances is a risky proposition. That said, even if states or cities don’t require the use of safety equipment, we should all be doing ourselves a favor by putting a helmet on if we decide to join the scooter frenzy that’s now upon us.

As Nationwide Pedestrian Deaths Increase, Chicago Experiences a Decrease in Fatalities

June 27, 2019 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

With much of Chicago now thinking about how to make certain that the city’s new pilot scooter program runs smoothly without any incidents, in addition to already navigating Divvy bikes and ride-share throughout the city, it is easy to forget that pedestrians make up a large portion of the traffic in the city. While accidents involving bicyclists having recently been widely covered in the news, we must remember that a incredibly high number of Chicagoans are walking to and from work and school each day, especially centrally located within the loop. The good news is that between January 1^st and May 31^st of 2019 the number of pedestrian deaths decreased 40 percent year over year. As the United States has been experiencing record highs in pedestrian deaths, with a new report by the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reporting that “about 6,227 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2018 – a 4 percent increase over 2017 and the highest mortality rate since 1990.” While those statistics present a scary reality for many commuters across the United States, it is good to see that Chicago has been able to limit the damage that having such a high population of individuals commuting within a city can pose.

On the other hand, those in Chicago must be aware that the city is going to be out in droves now that Summer is here, and Chicago residents can finally enjoy summer. Unfortunately, as we all know, the more people are outside and trying to enjoy the good weather and see what the city has to offer in its warmer months, the more potential there is for accidents to occur. With that being said, it is clear that certain measures can and should be taken by pedestrians to ensure they are safe from dangerous drivers and other commuters. According to the National Safety Council (NSC) has reported, those most at risk based on data from 2017 were “10- to 14-year-olds and 50- to 69-year-olds have 20% or more pedestrian deaths as a percentage off all traffic fatalities.” In response to these statistics, the NSC has provided a list of tips that pedestrians should be following when it comes to staying safe walking. See below for the list:

Whenever possible, walk on the sidewalk; if not sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic
Follow the rules of the road, obeying all traffic signs and signals
Cross streets at crosswalks
If no crosswalk is available and your view is blocked, move to a place where you can see oncoming traffic
Look left, right and left again before crossing the street, making eye contact with drivers of oncoming vehicles to make sure they see you
Stay alert – avoid cell phone use and wearing earbuds
Avoid alcohol and drug impairment when walking
Wear bright and/or reflective clothing, and use a flashlight at night
Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots
Children younger than 10 should cross the street with an adult

Of particular note is safety tip number 6 provided above. As we all know, cell phones are prevalent in every aspect of our lives. Walking to and from work is no different. Similar to how distracted driving is a leading cause in automobile crashes, being distracted while walking is incredibly dangerous and the amount we see it each day is alarming. In response to distracted walking and the issues it poses for not only the individual’s safety, but placing driver’s in poor situations as well, some cities have started enacting laws that aim to curb this bad habit and provide people with tickets if they are seen crossing a sidewalk while being distracted on their cell phones. Although this may appear extreme, many cities are finding that this is absolutely necessary to maintain pedestrian safety. Overall, the lesson we can learn from these alarming statistics is that we must be aware in our morning and evening commutes and we must put our phones away. If we expect drivers to take precaution to prevent injuries from occurring, let’s do ourselves a favor and keep the phones out of our hands while we are walking.

Illinois State Police Working Alongside Truckers to Curb Distracted Driving

June 25, 2019 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

As of June 19, 2019, Illinois State Police Officers have begun taking an unconventional approach to monitoring highway safety in Chicago. Throughout this summer, don’t be surprised if you happen to see state troopers seated alongside truckers on the road. “Trooper in a Truck” is what the Illinois state police are calling the new program, which they partnered with the Illinois Trucking Association and Cadence Premier Logistics to make a possibility. Due to significant increases in the number of fatalities resulting from distracted driving all across the United States, the “Trooper in a Truck” program makes sense.

As WJOL recently reported, “the new program is helping officers spot and correct unsafe driving behaviors of passing motorists by riding in the cabs of commercial motor vehicles and watching primarily for distracted driving offenses. Troopers are able to observe the violation taking place and notify other police units ahead to take enforcement action.” Based on the initial results, the plan just might work. On a single day of working the program, on June 19^th, police were able to issue more than 20 tickets for a variety of violations including distracted driving and improper lane changes.

While the new program may be unique to Chicago, it’s important to mention that troopers have been doing this program throughout the state for roughly a year now, and for good cause. Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total of 3,450 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2016, which comes to roughly 9 people in the United States being killed each day by a distracted driver. Additionally, the CDC goes to great lengths to provide necessary information that any driver should know when it comes to distracted driving such as the types of distracted driving an individual may be practicing on the road. Such types of distractions include visual, such as taking your eyes off the road; manual, meaning taking your hands off the wheel; and cognitive, taking your mind off of driving. After seeing these three categories, it is easy to imagine just how dangerous our favorite electronic devices are when driving on the road. For example, using a cell phone while driving combines all three categories essentially rendering yourself blind while driving.

Maintaining Road Safety

Outside of Illinois with its Trooper in a Truck program, many other states have adopted stricter distracted driving laws than what Illinois currently imposes. For example, Illinois currently prohibits the use of hand-held cellphones, texting, or using other electronic devices while driving. Further, if a driver is involved in a crash resulting from a distracted driver, they may end up facing criminal penalties and incarceration. However, violators of the law will only be charged a $75 fine for their first offense, which if caught again will increase by $25 and eventually be capped at $150. On the other hand, states with similar driving laws have actually imposed far stricter penalties if caught with a cell phone. For example, in 2017, Oregon unveiled a new distracted driving law that fines individuals $1,000 for a first offense, with a maximum fine of $2,000. While it is clear that each state handles driver safety differently, you would be hard pressed to find someone willing to risk paying $1000 for using their cell phone while driving. All of this goes to say that distracted driving is an issue. State’s are adopting these new rules for good reasons and we need to make certain that we do our best to follow them.

Tips for Drivers

With Trooper in a Truck now making its way to Chicago, it is safe to say we can all expect our actions on the road to be watched much more closely. This isn’t a bad thing though. Chicagoans should be practicing safe driving no matter what. However, this is a great time to finally get yourself to put the phone away for good and practice additional safe driving tips. The Associated Press reported in April of 2019 that Floow, “a telematics-based provider of smarter and safer mobility solutions has studied billions of journey miles to identify a number of key behaviors that have a significant impact on driver safety.” As a result of their tests, Floow put together a list of driver safety tips and best practices that if done properly, will certainly result in safer roads. See below for their list:

Put your cell phone out of arm’s reach. If you can’t grab it while you’re driving, you’ll get in the habit of waiting to answer your phone when it’s safe.
If you must talk, do it hands-free. Some cities and states have banned texting while driving altogether. Either way, a hands-free Bluetooth device is the safer way to go.
Secure your mobile device. Put your cell phone in the glove compartment or some other place where it’s securely stowed. The Floow’s crash testing shows that a free-flying mobile device can cause further damage or injury during a collision.
Pick a safe time to travel. Studies indicate that you are statistically more likely to have an accident between 11pm and 7am than at any other time of day. Planning ahead and choosing a responsible travel time will minimize risk.
Take regular breaks during long journeys. The longer you drive, the harder it is to stay alert. During a longer trip, take a quick refresher break every two hours.
Consider the speed limit as a guide, not a target. All driving conditions aren’t equal. When the weather is bad, or the driving conditions are less-than-desirable, slow down to allow for a greater breaking distance.
Drive smoothly. Aggressive acceleration and deceleration are both potentially dangerous. The smoother you drive, the greater your reaction times will be.

Nashville Bans Electric Scooters After Man is Killed

June 24, 2019 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Nashville wants scooters out until there is more oversight

Nashville mayor, David Briley, took to Twitter last Friday to announce he was submitting a recommendation to the City’s Metro Council to enact legislation that would immediately terminate its shared urban mobility device (SUMD) pilot program, effectively removing all ride-share electric scooters from the streets until further review and oversight of numbers, safety, and accessibility is completed.

As reported by the Tennessean, the crash that caused the injuries that led to the death of a 26 year old man in Nashville occurred on May 16, 2019. Three days later he was pronounced dead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. According to police, a witness reported seeing the man make an improper left turn after leaving the sidewalk and entering the roadway into the path of an SUV. A toxicology report stated that the man’s blood alcohol content was at 0.198% on the night the crash happened.

Electric Scooters aren’t generally allowed on sidewalks

These electric scooters are meant to be used within bicycle lanes and there was such a lane present in the area where the crash occurred. Riders are not permitted to operate the scooters on sidewalks in Nashville’s business district where this incident happened, according to local police. After the man’s death, his family posted a petition online calling for a ban on SUMD scooters in Nashville.

Regardless of how the crash occurred, drivers have a duty to keep a proper lookout for pedestrians, bicycles, and scooters. And, all people traveling on roads should use reasonable caution to avoid collisions. Electric scooters add an extra element to traffic that make the roads that much more congested. There were 8 companies participating in Nashville’s scooter-share pilot program. Chicago has 10 vendors supplying a combined total of 2,500 e-scooters. However, Chicago isn’t letting them go downtown yet, maybe not ever.

Is downtown the best place for e-scooters?

High traffic areas, like business districts and downtowns, may require more planning on the part of municipalities to make sure that these programs are introduced with safety in mind. Getting somewhere faster, cheaper, and easier sounds great, but that doesn’t matter if riders are more likely to get injured.

The question is, are scooters meant to be a replacement for other forms of urban transportation, or are they meant to be a go-between to allow people to travel from more residential areas to other forms of transit more quickly and cheaply? The go-between model seems to make more sense and that’s the approach Chicago is taking. Mary Wisniewski included a map in her Tribune article on the arrival of e-scooters in Chicago showing where the City will allow these devices to operate this summer. The neighborhoods, as opposed to the loop, may be a better fit for Chicago, which already has a lot of ride share vehicles taking people from place to place in addition to the busses and trains that already service passengers. People who need to get from their home to an L-stop may find a scooter more convenient than walking, hailing a cab, or ride-share. Yet, in these less congested areas, both scooter riders and automobile drivers need to keep a proper lookout for each other to avoid collisions as they share the road.

The bottom line is, no matter if you’re walking, biking, riding, or driving, it’s important to pay attention to other people on the roadway. That means keeping off cell phones and getting a ride from someone else if you’re tired or had too much to drink. And, with decriminalized marijuana coming to Illinois, fellow travelers need to add cannabis to the list of things not to combine with operating a vehicle. Safety should be foremost in everyone’s mind wherever they go.

Traffic fatalities spike in first half of 2016

October 11, 2016 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a slew of new data that shows a significant jump in the number of traffic-related fatalities during the first half of 2016.

More than 17,000 road deaths were recorded between the months of January and June, marking a 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year; it’s the biggest full-year percentage surge since 1966.

One of the reasons for such a steep increase, according to the report, is the steady uptick in the number of drivers who have since returned to the road in the years following the recession—more work equals more miles. Drivers traveled roughly 50 billion miles more between January and June of 2016 than they did during the same time frame last year.

Experts continue to speculate as to the cause of such drastic figures, though cell phones remain at the top of many people’s list. As an example, a recent study found that more than 11,000 daily incidents of distracted driving occur because of people playing the popular mobile app Pokémon Go, an interactive game that asks players to use their mobile device to seek out Pokémon characters.

While the Pokémon phenomenon may be somewhat of an anomaly, it’s an indication to safety experts that games, mobile apps, and texting are only adding to the frustrations of those trying to prevent distracted driving. What’s worse, they say, is that for all the injuries and deaths happening on the road, most if not all are preventable.

The NHTSA has dedicated more money to combat that trend, though it remains to be seen if Congress will act further to allow more studies. Speed limits have risen in recent years, and any money dedicated to federal transportation has been relegated to road infrastructure as opposed to behavioral studies.

To sum up the regional numbers: Fatalities increased by 20 percent in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington; 10 percent in the states that comprise New England; and 9 percent in the Mid-Atlantic states. The only decrease in fatalities (just one percent) occurred in a group covering Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Mississippi, and Louisiana.