Roads: Are They Safe? Experts Weigh In

Americas roads claim about 40,000 lives annually. These deaths have become routine, often eliciting little to no mention even in the local press. But some harvard affiliates are sounding the alarm about american roadsand are applying their expertise to help make them safer for all. Highway engineers typically view street trees as immovable fixed objects, and they can be a deadly adversary in a car crash. But in addition to their environmental benefits, street trees can.

But they also say these deaths are entirely preventable. The new 2025 roadmap to safety report rates how well all 50 u. s. States and washington, d. c. Progressed toward passing a series of traffic laws that target critical safety issues, including. In 2023, u. s. Roadways got a little bit safer than they were last year, but that's not saying much. Frank morris of member station kcur reports bad habits from the pandemic and vehicle designs. Transportation experts attribute the rising number of deaths to factors such as increased speed limits, the scramble for bigger and heavier vehicles, and the distractions of smartphones. But they also say these deaths are entirely preventable.