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Another tragic death on Reno's streets – we must change our deadly road plans

Thomas Albright
Reno Gazette Journal – Wikipedia

We have a safety crisis on our roads. Crashes and fatalities are on the rise, with pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. up 75% since 2010. It's even worse here in Nevada, where we currently rank 13th among states with the most pedestrian fatalities. These aren't just numbers – these are devastating tragedies involving friends, coworkers and family members. Just this Sunday, the driver of a car collided with one of our neighbors and her dog, killing them as they crossed Kings Row in northwest Reno.

Although investigations are currently underway, experts already know one thing: fatal accidents on our roads are a predictable consequence of design decisions.

A deadly design decision: prioritizing speed. The posted speed limit in Kings Row, where the accident occurred, is 30 miles per hour. But residents of Kings Row will tell you that people there routinely drive much faster. Why? The current road design is designed for speed. Kings Row has freeway-width lanes, and the roadway is much wider than the streets in surrounding residential areas. It has long straightaways and wide sweeping curves. The intersection with McDonald Drive has large-radius curves. All of these features are known to increase danger by “telling” drivers to drive fast.

More: Person and dog hit and killed by car in Kings Row on Sunday evening

The media has already quoted officials as saying that “speed does not appear to be a factor.” But in fatal accidents Speed ​​is always a factor. Higher speeds mean less time to react, poorer human awareness and longer stopping distances. In addition, the risk of a fatal accident increases dramatically with speed. A car travelling at 35 miles per hour (common on Kings Row) is five times more likely to kill a pedestrian than a car travelling at 20 miles per hour.

Another deadly design decision: no safe intersections and crossings. Despite requests from residents, the limited-visibility intersection where the accident occurred lacks important safety measures to protect pedestrians. Lighting is poor, crosswalks are only partially marked, vehicles park right up to the corner, and there are no pedestrian-activated traffic lights.

If accidents can be predicted, they can be prevented! There is a whole package of evidence-based solutions, and many of them are already in use in Northern Nevada. The first of these is lighting—pedestrians are 2.5 times less likely to be killed at lighted intersections. Less than a half mile up Kings Row, the City of Reno has installed “curb extensions” that improve visibility, reduce vehicle speeds, and shorten the distance pedestrians must cross. Other intersections and crossings have been equipped with “daylighting” measures to prevent cars from parking within 20 feet. Protecting bike lanes with barriers or even parked cars not only makes cyclists safer, but everyone else by giving drivers a signal to slow down.

More: Horrific plans send semi-trailers to Truckee River and historic area

Unfortunately, these solutions are still exceptions in a streetscape dominated by outdated and unsafe designs. Today's engineers want to build safer streets, and our community is tired of tragedies that keep cropping up. We must advocate for safer streets. Please tell your council member and county commissioner that you support:

  • Road features for moderate speedssuch as speed limits, chicanes, roadside trees, protected bike paths and narrower lanes
  • Safer design of crossings and intersectionssuch as better lighting, daylight, improved signals and raised zebra crossings

I also encourage you to attend public meetings and get involved in groups and programs that promote safety, such as the Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance, Strong Towns Reno, and your local Safe Routes to School program.

Finally, as the brother of a victim of a preventable traffic accident, I would like to ask you to show compassion and support to those who are mourning this and other tragic losses.

Thomas Albright, PhD, is a professor specializing in sustainability and president of the Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance.

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