Killer roads

Where is the infrastructure where one does not have to be propelled by fossil fuel at high speed?
Each (new) road should have a shady and separated cycling and walking infrastructure factored in.
Wildlife crossings all along the way.

Australia’s road toll continues to rise with 37 additional people killed in 'accidents' compared to the previous 12 months, despite a nationwide target to halve road deaths by 2030.

“The rising road toll came despite a National Road Safety Action Plan target to halve deaths by 2030 and cut serious transport injuries by 30%. In 2023, Australia is unable to adequately quantify the extent of road trauma, or the effectiveness of interventions being deployed to reduce it.”

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/23/australias-road-toll-continues-to-rise-with-most-states-falling-behind-safety-goals

#FatalAccidents #RoadToll #RoadDeaths #RoadTrauma #IntegralAccident #speed #RoadSafety #VisionZero #failure #NorthBankRoad #so50s #NSW #climate #FossilFuel #mobility #carnage #infrastructure #risks #sacrifice

Road deaths ripple through Australia’s small towns
"In 2021, 1,116 people died on Australian roads. Of those, 65% were from regional and remote communities and more than 40% were aged between 17 and 39.
The Australian National University reported the estimated cost of a fatal crash between 2016 and 2020 to be $3.2m."
The provision of active and fossil fuel free infrastructure could reduce such a carnage. But no, it's always more roads!

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/15/a-community-like-this-is-interlinked-how-road-deaths-ripple-through-australias-small-towns
#NSW #Bellingen #Speeding #roads #Cars #motorists #RoadToll #RoadTrauma #Pedestrians #RoadKill #carnage #Sacrifice #speed #Mobility #VisionZero

Denying humanness to others
has a long history...

Recent research from Australia has found that many people consider cyclists to be less than fully #human.

"We found images of #cyclists wearing #helmets or #safety vests to have a higher probability of being selected as less human compared to images of cyclists wearing no safety equipment. The results have implications for research on cyclists."

"Dehumanisation has been found to be predictive of hostile and aggressive behaviour, our finding highlights a potential conflict around the perception and utility of safety gear such as high visibility vests; although designed for safety, they may inadvertently increase levels of hostility and #aggression toward this group of vulnerable road users."

"Research indicates that low status groups are dehumanised – viewed as less civilised and evolved than groups afforded a higher #status."

I often wonder if the SUVs with black tinted windows contain any humans?

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847823001018
#Cycling #SafetyAttire #SustainableMobility #CarbonNeutral #ActiveTransportation #Climate #Dehumanisation #Subhuman #Essentialism #Cars #FossilFuel #Motorists #Roadtrauma #Roadkill #OutGroup #Civilisation

Running red lights
Sacrifice Roses Road to beautify Gleniffer Road?
After six month of #detour on #RosesRoad motorists have just become oblivious to the the forest of signs. Drivers are more impatient and aggressiv on the narrow, steep and bendy roads. #Speeding of trucks and cars has become normal.
It is cheap to crowd a small road with signs and do no policing. Now that many 'run the red light' on a daily bases, it is just a matter of time before a #crash takes place. The road is made #unsafe and cracked open by overuse. A sacrifice so that #GlenifferRoad is fit for logging trucks and the tourist stream.
#Bellingen #Climate #Dust #Pollution #BellingenLogging #Roads #Cars #RoadTrauma

Australia’s rising road toll
“Data shows an increase in #speeding and running red lights in NSW and Victoria. ‘People have less patience with #traffic now after the #roads were much quieter for years.”

“There were 1,204 deaths on Australian roads in the 12 months to 31 March, an almost 6% increase. Of the total deaths, 557 were drivers, up 2.2%, while 189 were passengers, up 3.8%. #Pedestrian deaths increased by 22.6%, rising to 163, while motorcyclist deaths climbed 7% to 246.”

“People in regional Australia were almost five times more likely to die in road #crashes than those living in cities last year, the latest statistics show.'

“#Children involved in a fatal crash are eight times more likely to have been struck by an SUV than a standard car.”

“The exponential rise in freight truck and heavy vehicle movements that has far outstripped population growth.”

Reduce #RoadFatalities> “Design roads to appear riskier, which would slow down traffic and force users to consider each other. As driving becomes automated and requires less constant attention, it has de-skilled us as drivers.”
#Infrastructure for #walking and #cycling would help. Meanwhile, #Bellingen widens country roads..

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/21/australias-rising-road-toll-how-the-pandemic-and-a-love-of-big-cars-are-putting-lives-at-risk
#SUV TaxPerks #Trucks AngryMotorists #RoadDeaths #RoadTrauma #RoadDesign #AutomaticDrivingModes #MobilityDesign