Bicycle Austin forum

RedFalcon

Member

Registered: 2013-10-10

Posts: 233

Cyclist / pedestrian fatalities 2017-21

Does anyone know where there is an accurate and up to date count of traffic fatalities for Austin?
Vision Zero has a counter, but it is not well maintained and usually a month behind.

We must be setting an all time high record this year.

Darron

Member

Registered: 2014-05-22

Posts: 131

Re: Cyclist / pedestrian fatalities 2017-21

This KVUE article indicates we are at 106 as of Dec 10th (but now sure what data source they use).

Edit to add: "This is Austin's 106th fatal traffic crash of 2021, resulting in 115 fatalities this year. On this date last year, there were 81 fatal crashes with 86 fatalities."

https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local … 8bc7a07ee4

Last edited by Darron (2021-12-15 13:07:56)

MichaelBluejay

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From: Austin, TX

Registered: 2008-05-26

Posts: 1,455

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Re: Cyclist / pedestrian fatalities 2017-21

Traffic deaths increased 26% in Austin from 2020, and 32% from 2019, mirroring national trend.

https://communityimpact.com/austin/nort … k-ongoing/

And VisionZero thinks we can achieve zero traffic deaths.  Not in a culture of selfishness, we can't.

trentsky

Member

Registered: 2009-12-18

Posts: 7

Re: Cyclist / pedestrian fatalities 2017-21

Such articles cite speeding and other violations for this trend, but I'd be interested in stats describing the changing character of the vehicles on our roads. Slate had an article the other day discussing the rise in "megatrucks" and "monster SUVs":

https://slate.com/business/2022/02/suvs … uy-em.html

"The drivers who just love the feeling of being way up off the ground, of having a front end that intimidates other cars, of being big? Just remember this. You’ve made a choice, and that choice tells your community that you are absolutely, totally, 100 percent comfortable with killing someone. How will you feel the day you actually do?"

MichaelBluejay

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From: Austin, TX

Registered: 2008-05-26

Posts: 1,455

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Re: Cyclist / pedestrian fatalities 2017-21

Thanks for sharing that, trentsky.

I remember Amy Babich said something similar about the ethics of choosing big SUVs to be the victor in a collision.  It might have been in Bike Like U Mean It.

MichaelBluejay

Webmaster

From: Austin, TX

Registered: 2008-05-26

Posts: 1,455

Website

Re: Cyclist / pedestrian fatalities 2017-21

This article says in 2021, drivers killed 62 peds and six bicyclists.

It also notes that ped/cyclist deaths are way up from 2017-21:  Fatal ped crashes up 34%, and bike fatalities up 58%.

I blame woke politicians and critical race theory.

https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/pedestr … -in-texas/

Darron

Member

Registered: 2014-05-22

Posts: 131

Re: Cyclist / pedestrian fatalities 2017-21

Yep, we are going backwards compared to the rest of the world on traffic fatalities and specifically bike/ped fatalities.  This was a topic at a last fall's 2022 Texas Statewide Pedestrian Forum.  The NHTSA's presentation has some of the specific data on this subject. 

TX
15.5% increase in fatalities
44.7% increase speed-related fatalities
11.8% increase ped/bike combined
per 100M vehicle miles traveled (VMT), 2018-2020

U.S.
17.5% increase in fatalities
17.5% increase speed-related fatalities
2.9% increase ped/bike combined fatalities
per 100M VMT, 2018-2020

Reducing vehicle speed was highlighted as a way to reduce deaths.

MichaelBluejay

Webmaster

From: Austin, TX

Registered: 2008-05-26

Posts: 1,455

Website

Re: Cyclist / pedestrian fatalities 2017-21

Reducing vehicle speed was highlighted as a way to reduce deaths.

That can't be right.  According to neighbors on Nextdoor.com, only bicyclists break the law, and they're not capable of biking that fast.