Todd Litman’s Post

Another great read from Todd Litman on what I'm starting to think of as the "Grand Convergence" - thought leaders and early adopters from a range of expertise areas converging on the idea that VMT mitigation is a key base of the #SafeSystemsPyramid opportunity to have significant, root-cause-focused impact for safety (and to fund safety interventions!). It's exciting to connect sustainability, livability, complete streets, and safety all under the #peoplecentered paradigm shift of optimizing the system for access instead of mobility. In addition to the must-read (ignore the title and just read it, absorb it, even disagree with it) Killed by a Traffic Engineer, I've really enjoyed reading Susan Handy's Shifting Gears book (https://lnkd.in/g2cKvXrv) with the same arguments (and maybe a less polarizing title :)). It's such a motivating time to be in this field and be a sponge to all the fresh (and re-freshed) ideas!

"The new traffic safety paradigm recognizes these relationships; all else being equal, planning decisions that increase traffic speeds and total vehicle travel tend to increase crashes, and decisions that reduce total vehicle travel (e.g., multimodal planning, efficient road and parking pricing, TDM programs, and Smart Growth development policies) tend to increase safety." Less driving = more living. Thanks Todd Litman for a great article on the importance of TDM as a traffic safety strategy.

When social media users shared some phrases to describe their three-word horror stories, ‘Rail replacement bus’ was right up there along with ‘view current balance’. However, when a passenger knows in advance that their journey will be affected by planned engineering works and they will need to take a rail replacement bus, it becomes a much less horrifying prospect. When people have the information they need, they feel more in control. Read more about how better passenger information will boost your customer service here: https://ow.ly/wGZK50R6sRj #3Squared #RailIndustry #RailInnovation #MakeChangeWork #TrainOperators #RailTravel #RailwaySoftware #CompetencyManagement

Back in 1993 when I was working on Scotland's national road safety plan with Gordon Harland and Katie Bryan-Brown we explored the potential benefits of different speed limits more appropriate for Scotland's geography. Norway was of particular interest having a few cities and large remote areas dependent on travel by long distance single carriageways. At the time, the road safety plan was unable to take action on UK speed limits, but devolution of this power in 1999 to Scotland was intended to change that. For the last 25 years I have been asking politicians to act, and finally we have a consultation with the potential to be transformational. The consultation period until, March 2025 can be used to make these proposals better. For example, the proposal to harmonise HGV and car speeds at 50mph on long distance single carriageways can be expected to make a huge contribution to road safety by largely eliminating the need for overtaking for most drivers. However, immediately members of the public on the radio today have been asking how they can safely overtake a cautious 90 year old driver who feels that 40mph is the fastest they can drive. In Norway they have rules about stopping to let people pass and in Scotland we will need something similar. Having waited 32 years for the politicians to act in ways that could help Scotland to have as good a road safety record as Norway let's not waste the chance to get the new approaches right. https://lnkd.in/eAvzM8MH

As ferry operators, how do we get the most out of our vehicle deck? Read more below.

More lighting on Trains is not a solution - especially with 81% of collisions / near misses happening during the day and are human error / behavioural issues. In Australia 2024, according to ATSB in the 6-year period from July 2015 to June 2021, there were 211 collisions involving rail vehicles and road vehicles at level crossings in Australia (about 35 per year). Of these, 34 of the collisions involved heavy road vehicles (that is, heavy freight vehicles or buses) and there are >1,000 near misses in 2024. LSM TrainSense® (Int. pat. pend.), a cost-effective, life-saving solution priced under $100 per in-cabin device. This system requires no extra infrastructure or maintenance, is easy to implement. It can integrate with existing technology to reduce human error and environmental factors, providing alerts and can trigger vehicle deceleration or even braking if warnings are ignored. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/g8gUArA7. #rail #trainsense #bridgesense #bridgeimpact #bridgecollision #teamlsm #railwaysafety #railsafety #levelcrossings #railwaysafetydevices #bridgeengineering #bridgedesign #bridgeclearance #overheadimpact #technology #innovation #creativity #healthandsafety #railsafety

Things we take for granted, are often forgotten when it comes to road safety, one of these things that many would feel lost without, me included, is of course Sat Nav. We rely on the friendly voice of Siri to guide us to our destination in the fastest most economical way possible, which quietly, runs various algorithms using real time traffic data extracted from the other phone users data which is being collected in many cases without their knowledge. Yet, I think we are missing an opportunity here and Sat Nav could have and should have a far greater impact on road safety than it currently does. It would be handy if for example, if hazards on the road ahead could be incorporated into the announcements, reminders for drivers to take a break, (fatigue being a significant contributor to crashes on the network) especially when approaching a service station, distance to the next rest stop. What would help is if the various Scats systems around the country were tied to the system so they could control and direct traffic more efficiently, reducing congestion rather than fighting a system which only helps the individual rather than trying to understand the bigger picture. Emergency vehicles, should automatically be identified as they approach traffic and a warning to move over to allow the vehicles to pass should be transferred to the Sat Nav to advise drivers on their approach. The thing is we rely so much on our mobile devices, we end up paying more attention to what they tell us than listening to the others (human beings) who may be offering them pertinent information or advise. Sat Nav is not going away, we are relying on it more and more, we should utilize it potential, and make our roads a little safer, than they currently are.

🚆 Mind the Gap: Small Detail, Big Safety Concern When designing rail systems, passenger safety and comfort are top priorities, yet the gap between the train and platform often goes unnoticed. Here’s why this detail matters: Safety: A wide gap poses risks for the elderly, children, and passengers with limited mobility. Comfort: Narrower gaps enable faster, easier boarding and alighting, reducing delays. System Compatibility: Proper alignment between platform height and train doors ensures seamless operations and compliance with international standards. Ignoring this critical detail can lead to accidents and operational disruptions. With innovative solutions and precise engineering, these risks can be minimized. Focusing on these details reflects a strong commitment to passenger safety and satisfaction, setting a new standard for excellence in rail systems. What improvements do you think could enhance this aspect? Share your thoughts below! #RailSafety #RailSystems #EngineeringExcellence #PassengerComfort #InnovationInTransport #PublicTransport #SafetyFirst #ZORail #TrainTravel

Following Safety standards in Engineering design and operation can eliminate such disaster.

This gap is fetal from passenger safety point of view , so all trains across globe must be designed keeping this crucial point in designing #rollingstock because life of each passenger is precious , so #systemdesign of train #shs #hsr or any other form must consider this without any excuse or logic . #passengersafety