As a part of its EMBARQ Sustainable Urban Mobility initiative, the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities has created a global reference guide called Cities Safer by Design “to help cities save lives from traffic fatalities through improved street design and smart urban development."
Causing over 1.24 million deaths annually, traffic fatalities are currently estimated to be the eighth leading cause of death worldwide, a ranking that is expected to rise to the fifth leading cause of death by 2030.
With these staggering numbers in mind, the Cities Safer by Design guide discusses ways to make cities less dangerous, particularly with its section entitled, “7 Proven Principles for Designing a Safer City.” Learn what the 7 concepts are, after the break.
1) Avoid Urban Sprawl
2) Slow down road traffic
3) Ensure main streets are safe for everyone, not just cars.
4) Create dedicated spaces for pedestrians.
5) Provide a safe, connected network for cyclists.
6) Ensure safe access to high-quality public transport.
7) Use data to detect problem areas.
For an in-depth explanation of each principle check out the WRI's "7 Proven Principles for Designing a Safer City" here and their full guide "Cities Safer by Design" here.
