Two weeks after my uncle's death, I was stunned to read that APD Chief Art Acevedo's solution for reducing pedestrian deaths in Austin is to ticket more jaywalkers.  Our infrastructure has always been designed for cars, and it feds as though pedestrian and cyclist facilities only result as an afterthought.  Infrastructure is not APD's department, but how APD favors ticketing cyclists and pedestrians, both of whom are vulnerable road users -- over holding negligent drivers accountable -- is....These perpetrators rarely get prosecuted and often get off on a much less punitive plea deal.  To add insult to injury, APD now wants to point the blame at these aggrieved, vulnerable road users who already suffer from the lack of an equitable and safe roadway system.

I recently received a copy of the crash report for my father's incident, which leaves me very concerned about the investigation.  One of the responding officers wrote, "assuming [the driver's] account is generally accurate..." in the report.  The account of this driver—cited for intoxication assault; with an existing record of assault, aggravated robbery, and possession of cocaine; and who was violating parole when he was apprehended—is to be presumed "accurate"?...He claims he swerved, yet there was no indication of brake marks....But the law is willing to rely on a recurring and violent offender's report because my father was incapable of providing a statement at the time of the accident.  This is yet another example of a broken system.....

It makes me wonder if these policies—which vilify vulnerable road users—are why so many motorists get off with a slap on the wrist when they hit pedestrians and cyclists, compared to when a crash involves another motorist.  I believe that our city will never become a safe place for pedestrians and cyclists if we keep blaming them for vehicular crashes.  Drivers have little incentive to change their behaviors if there are no repercussions for their risky, distracted actions.

https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/20 … destrians/