Auto-Pedestrian and Auto-Cyclist Fatalities Reach an All-Time High in Austin

The Statesman reported this week that 2012 ranks as the deadliest year for pedestrians and cyclists in Austin history--and the year is not even over yet.  So far there have been 28 auto-pedestrian deaths in 2012--up from 12 deaths just 2 years ago in 2010. A very sad statistic and a tragedy for those who lost their lives and their families. The City of Austin needs to examine closely what is driving this increase and should adopt an aggressive approach to eliminate these fatalities next year. First steps to beef up pedestrian safety?  I have heard from several folks who say that the City desperately needs to hire a pedestrian director who could serve a role similar to that of the City's bicycle program director, albeit for pedestrians, by aggressively pursuing opportunities for safer and better pedestrian infrastructure. The City also needs to aggressively enforce laws barring texting while driving. And, in addition to enforcing our crosswalk laws, the City should put in place more light-protected crosswalks like the ones up on Barton Springs across from the Austin Energy building and on Lake Austin Boulevard across from the UT student apartments. It's ridiculous how often crosswalk laws are not enforced and are thus ignored in this City unless these lights are in place. Drive down Lavaca at around 17th Street any morning between 8am and 9am and watch the state workers line up trying to cross 3 lanes of traffic at the crosswalk while not a single car yields to them. It's traffic fatality #29 waiting to happen.