Roadway Safety Briefing: Dangerous by Design

A historic increase in pedestrian deaths from 2020 to 2021 shocked many, but this epidemic continues to get worse. In 2022, the most recent year with complete federal data, the number of people who were struck and killed while walking grew to 7,522, marking a 40-year high. This represents an astonishing 75 percent increase in these deaths since 2010. Panelists will speak to the current state of pedestrian fatalities across the county, the role that vehicle size and design play in the crisis, how cities have worked to tackle this challenge, and federal legislative solutions to address pedestrian deaths.

WHO: Mayor Matt Tuerk, City of Allentown, PA; Heidi Simon, Director of Thriving Communities, Smart Growth America; Jessica Cicchino, Vice President of Research, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; Mindy Badin, Advocate, Families for Safe Streets