Recent Streetsblog USA posts about NHTSA

Federal Safety Officials Knew SUV Design Kills Pedestrians and Didn’t Act

By Angie Schmitt | Jun 29, 2018 | 6 Comments

A 2015 NHTSA report reviewed a range of research showing that people are two to three times more likely to be killed when struck by an SUV than by a typical passenger car.

STREETSBLOG CALIFORNIA

Traffic Safety Report Finds More Drivers Using Cellphones

By Melanie Curry | Apr 24, 2018

Despite laws against using a hand-held phone or similar device, a new report shows that people are not putting down their phones.

This graphic from NHTSA tells you how many people were killed in motor vehicle collisions last year, but says very little about the systemic causes of America's abysmal traffic safety record.

America Hasn’t Seen a Spike in Traffic Deaths This Bad in 50 Years

By Angie Schmitt | Oct 11, 2017 | 71 Comments

America's traffic safety record is going from bad to worse -- and federal transportation officials aren't speaking up about it.

Dash cam footage from a West Midlands Police unit caught a U.K. driver going 115 mph in a 30 mph zone. Photo: Sky News

Why Are Carmakers Allowed to Sell Products That Go Faster Than 100 MPH?

By Angie Schmitt | Aug 30, 2017 | 137 Comments

It's never safe to drive 115 mph on public roadways. Why do we allow companies to sell millions of cars that can reach those speeds or higher?

Will US DOT’s Self-Driving Car Rules Make Streets Safe for Walking and Biking?

By Angie Schmitt | Sep 22, 2016 | 44 Comments

This week, U.S. DOT released guidelines for self-driving cars, a significant step as regulators prepare for companies to bring this new technology to market. Autonomous vehicles raise all sorts of questions about urban transportation systems. It’s up to advocates to ensure that the technology helps accomplish broader goals like safer streets and more efficient use of urban space, […]

U.S. Traffic Fatalities Rising Fast — Especially Pedestrian and Cyclist Deaths

By Angie Schmitt | Jul 1, 2016 | 34 Comments

Traffic fatalities in America hit a seven-year high in 2015, with pedestrians and cyclists accounting for a disproportionate share of the alarming increase, according to preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Last year, 35,200 people were killed in traffic — a 7.7 percent increase over 2014 and the worst death toll since 2008. The number of people killed while […]

Show More Stories