Austin's battle against the perils of left-hand turns has led to the launch of a new traffic calming initiative. In the hopes of improving pedestrian safety, the city's Vision Zero program has rolled out a "left-turn calming" pilot at 16 intersections. These measures include the installation of new rubber speed cushions and delineated posts to slow down vehicles and reduce the likelihood of crashes involving pedestrians.

With five years' worth of data showing more than 200 such crashes, 70% resulting in injuries to pedestrians, the need for change was stark. As noted in a report by CBS Austin, these modifications are a low-cost attempt to mitigate a significant risk. Vision Zero's Acting Transportation Safety Officer, Meyer, stated, "It really slows down turning vehicles, squares those vehicles up a little bit so they can see crossing pedestrians and really just leads to better outcomes."

Alyssa Ricken, a downtown Austin resident and routine pedestrian, expressed her anxiety regarding drivers who often commit traffic infractions. She told CBS Austin, "I definitely see people running lights or just stopping too far across the crosswalk, or in the crosswalk, that kind of thing." Ricken welcomes the pilot program as a means to enhance pedestrian safety.

Additionally, KXAN highlights the city's collaboration with signal engineers to identify high-risk spots and adapt traffic signals, with changes such as flashing yellow arrows and protected left turns already proving effective. "We've implemented over 70 of these treatments across the city, and some of the early results we're seeing are a 70% reduction in these specific kinds of crashes and a 50% reduction in injuries and fatal crashes overall," Meyer stated in correspondence with KXAN.

With half the planned interventions already in place, the city awaits the data in a few months to evaluate the success of these left-turn calming measures. If proven effective, Austin's streets could see a wider rollout, aiming for a safer cityscape for those on foot and behind the wheel alike.