Chicago's slow drivers make streets safer than other big cities
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Chicago drivers tend to drive slower than the national average on major pedestrian roadways (meaning streets people often cross), making them safer for people on foot.
Driving the news: More than 60% of the city's major pedestrian roadways have average vehicle speeds under 25 mph, compared to the national average of 36%.
- The finding is based on a report from StreetLight Data, which tracked mobility trends using anonymized cell phone data and other sources in 2022.
- The group's objective was to understand how fast vehicles are actually going and the impact on pedestrian safety, creating what it calls a "Safe Speed Index."
The biggest danger zone? Fast-moving roads alongside busy retail and service areas with lots of foot traffic.
- In urban areas, such arterial roadways make up about 15% of all roads but account for 67% of pedestrian deaths, per StreetLight Data.
By the numbers: Illinois saw 1.59 pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 residents in 2022, according to a separate report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
- We do much better than New Mexico (4.40), Arizona (4.17), and Florida (3.70) but worse than Iowa (.56) and Wisconsin (.8).
The big picture: At least 7,508 pedestrians nationwide were struck and killed by vehicles in 2022 — the most in 41 years — per the GHSA report.
- Pedestrian fatalities have skyrocketed 77% since 2010, compared to 25% for all other traffic-related deaths, the report also found.
Zoom in: Our reduced speeds could be attributed to Chicago's strict laws against speeding near schools and parks that went into effect in 2021 and withstood a challenge last year.
Get smart: Pedestrians are twice as likely to be killed in a collision when a car is traveling at 30 mph compared to 20 mph, and over five times more likely when the car is driving 40 mph, according to data from the AAA Foundation.
- Time of day matters too; most pedestrian deaths occur at night.
What they're saying: "The saddest part is that these crashes are preventable," GHSA CEO Jonathan Adkins said in a statement. "We know what works: better-designed infrastructure, lower speeds, addressing risky driving behaviors that pose a danger to people walking."
What's next: The Biden administration is proposing a new rule that would set higher performance standards for automatic emergency braking and pedestrian-detection technology, potentially reducing pedestrian deaths.