The War on Cars

Killed by a Traffic Engineer

Jun 25, 2024

A professor of civil engineering challenges the notion that traffic engineering is based on science in the podcast. Topics include the historical influence on safety standards, the relationship between speed limits and road safety, and the conflict between safety and traffic flow efficiency. The guest calls for a shift towards prioritizing safety in transportation design and discusses the evolution of traffic engineering perspectives over time.

47:51

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Episode guests

Wes Marshall

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Transportation system design lacks scientific basis, necessitating a shift towards safety-first mindset.

Traffic engineering metrics prioritize vehicle miles over safety outcomes, advocating for population-based measures.

Deep dives

Traffic Engineering Challenges Safety Assumptions

Traffic engineer Wes Marshall challenges the prevailing belief that transportation system design is based on science, emphasizing the need for a mindset shift to prioritize safety over capacity. Marshall's book, 'Killed by a Traffic Engineer,' critiques the industry's reliance on outdated manuals and emphasizes the importance of considering human behavior in road design.

Intro

2min

Prioritizing Safety in Traffic Engineering

3min

Challenges in Traffic Engineering and Road Safety

15min

Navigating the Speed-Safety Paradox in Traffic Engineering

8min

Exploring the Conflict Between Safety and Capacity in Traffic Engineering

2min

Shifting Perspectives in Traffic Engineering

15min

Evolution of Traffic Engineering and Shifts in the Field

3min

Because it has the word “engineering” right in there, the field of traffic engineering is something most people assume is governed by science and rational rules. But a new book, written by a traffic engineer himself, argues that is not the case at all. In Killed by a Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion That Science Underlies Our Transportation System, Wes Marshall — a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Denver — says that the idea that the design of our transportation system is based on science couldn't be further from the truth. By examining a century's worth of history, studies, old professional journals and current standards, Marshall argues that his colleagues need to do some deep soul searching about the rules they follow so that they no longer design a system that kills tens of thousands of people per year.

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This episode was edited by Yessenia Moreno. It was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio.

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