The Strong Towns Podcast We Need a New Approach to Road Safety and Design
23 snips
Apr 3, 2025 A keynote address reveals the alarming rise in traffic fatalities during the pandemic and advocates for 'forgiving design' in roadways to enhance safety. The importance of a human-centered approach in urban transportation design emerges, critiquing ineffective 'stroads' and the economic challenges of funding safer systems. The discussion highlights the need for infrastructure that accommodates all users, emphasizing pedestrian and cyclist safety. Ultimately, it calls for community engagement in street design to create more inclusive urban environments.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Pandemic Traffic Deaths
- Traffic deaths increased during the pandemic despite less driving, contradicting established safety theories.
- Chuck Marohn questions the narrative of reckless drivers and offers an alternative explanation.
Congestion and Safety
- Chuck Marohn suggests traffic congestion unintentionally makes roads safer by limiting speeds.
- Removing congestion, as happened during the pandemic, allows normal driving behaviors to become more dangerous.
Forgiving Design
- Chuck Marohn recounts realizing he's aging when engineering students didn't recognize the term "forgiving design".
- He emphasizes how the concept has become ingrained, losing its original emphasis on forgiveness.
