Arizonans have until September 6 to weigh in on the state's road safety future, including a strategy that zeroes in on protecting those traveling by foot or bike. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has made public its plans for the Strategic Highway Safety Plan and the draft of Arizona’s inaugural Active Transportation Safety Action Plan. These documents are part of an effort to curb the troubling rise in pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities on Arizona roadways.
According to ADOT's announcement, the emphasis of these safety strategies falls on several key categories, including human behavior, intersections, and lane departure. It also focuses on the protection of vulnerable road users, on tribal lands, no less, and improving visibility for all. The recommendations are crafted from public meetings, data crunching, as well as past research and planning initiatives.
The agency's efforts align with federal requirements, mandating states to have and periodically update their highway safety blueprints. This collaborative process includes local, state, and federal stakeholders. It's a bid to synchronize highway safety programs across various agencies and utilize shared resources for the purpose of advancing road safety.
ADOT’s proposed safety enhancements span a wide array of tactics such as elevating the visibility of pedestrians and bicyclists, redesigning the approach to road planning and design with a keener consideration for these groups, and curtailing high-risk movements by drivers. Additionally, it advocates "conducting high-visibility enforcement at intersections." and enhancing the safety protocols at accident scenes.
The Strategic Highway Safety Plan update stems from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe System Approach, promoting a cooperative ethos when it comes to roadway safety improvement. Meanwhile, the Active Transportation Safety Action Plan is ADOT's answer to the specific threat faced by pedestrians and cyclists, especially on local routes and state highways. Recommendations include location-focused safety projects along state highways intended to protect these vulnerable road users.
Public feedback on both plans is solicited via an online survey available through ADOT's website. Comments are being accepted through the upcoming Friday deadline, offering citizens an opportunity to play a part in shaping the strategy that aims to save lives on their streets.
