Intersexions: safe sex and streets
Ever been in an Aggie taxi? It stops at all the green lights, because you never know who will run a red.
This blog is about analogies. In my work, I constantly seek analogies to convey the message. Today’s message is that we can better address traffic safety by following the public health model. To wit, it is more effective to add fluoride to drinking water than cajole people into using toothpaste with fluoride. Read this blog for more context.
Safe Sex
A useful analogy is birth control. There are a number of campaigns explaining the effectiveness of various birth control methods. On the low end are withdrawal and the rhythm method. On the high end are intrauterine devices (IUD) and vasectomies.
Effectiveness of birth control methods, from sterilization to withdrawal, www.shecares.com.
Effectiveness of birth control methods, from sterilization to withdrawal, www.segaltrials.com.
Safe Streets
Many traffic safety initiatives in North America are essentially akin to politely asking men to withdraw before ejaculation. In the chart below, I have rated traffic safety initiatives by effectiveness, and given their birth control equivalent. [Asterisks indicate it is on the FHWA proven safety countermeasures list.] Five star intiatives minimize traffic, minimize interaction with vehicles, and maximize non-driving mobility. They create compact, walkable, cyclable, low speed community with good connectivity - the vasectomies of traffic safety.
