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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Pedestrian deaths declined last year but remain high: report
This story was originally published on Smart Cities Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Smart Cities Dive newsletter. Pedestrian deaths in the U.S. fell for the second straight year in 2024 but remain nearly 20% higher than in 2016, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association report released today based on preliminary data. Drivers killed 7,148 people last year, with more than three quarters of pedestrian fatalities taking place after dark. Nearly two-thirds of deaths occurred in places lacking sidewalks. More than half of pedestrian deaths happened in collisions with SUVs and pickup trucks. These vehicles accounted for 54% of fatalities. Pedestrian fatalities rose from 4,779 in 2013 to a high of 7,593 in 2022 before beginning to decline, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Pedestrian deaths are increasing faster than overall traffic fatalities, the GHSA said, and now account for nearly one-fifth of all traffic-related deaths in the U.S. The GHSA report found that alcohol use played a role for both drivers and pedestrians. Speeding accounted for 8.1% of pedestrian fatalities in 2023, using data from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. A quarter of deaths involved drivers who left the scene of the accident. The nation's 10 most populous cities, which together accounted for 766 pedestrian deaths in 2023, saw a 9.6% decrease from the prior year, according to the report. New York City and San Diego achieved the largest declines, while San Antonio, Texas, was the only one of the 10 to see an increase in fatalities. New Mexico was the deadliest state in the nation for pedestrians in 2024, recording 4.41 deaths per 100,000 population, according to GHSA preliminary data. Arizona, Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi and Nevada all had more than 3 fatalities per 100,000 population, compared to the national rate of 2.10. Kentucky, South Carolina and Wyoming all lowered their pedestrian fatality rates by more than 0.50 points. A number of states have implemented targeted educational outreach to improve pedestrian safety. Illinois and Maryland, for example, created programs geared to school-age children. Connecticut and Rhode Island developed safety campaigns geared toward older pedestrians. Using crash data, Maine is focusing its outreach efforts on urban areas, while South Carolina is using social media and billboard advertising in the 10 counties with the highest number of pedestrian fatalities. Greater attention among all levels of government is being directed toward vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists, the report states. Tactics include road designs that foster safer vehicle speeds, refuge islands along wide roads and traffic signals at intersections that allow pedestrians to cross before cars. Law enforcement plays an important role in addressing dangerous driving behaviors that place pedestrians at risk, the report says. Most of this enforcement occurs at the local level and often focuses on speeding, distracted driving or driving while impaired. California, Washington, D.C., and some other states conduct operations using plain clothes officers at crosswalks. When they observe drivers who do not yield the right of way to pedestrians, they alert other officers stationed ahead to pull those motorists over for a citation or warning. California, Indiana and Utah also have programs to enforce laws requiring drivers to stop for a stopped school bus, helping to prevent injuries to children. 'The second straight year of fewer pedestrian deaths is a step in the right direction, but much more must be done to protect people walking,' said GHSA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins in a statement. 'Now is the time to double down on what works — more and better infrastructure, enforcement to deter dangerous driving behaviors, engaged and informed communities, and vehicles designed to protect people on foot.' Recommended Reading Enforcement, education could reduce traffic deaths from distracted driving: report Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Detroit deploys drones and AI to target building efficiency improvements
This story was originally published on Smart Cities Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Smart Cities Dive newsletter. Detroit has launched a drone inspection pilot program for city-owned buildings that can identify energy-saving improvements and optimize performance. The drones capture visible and thermal imaging of the building; an AI platform developed by processes the images and building analytics to create 3D models and energy simulations that help city officials identify thermal inefficiencies, assess structural conditions and optimize potential upgrades. A partnership among Detroit-based technology incubator Michigan Central and startup venture platform Newlab, the pilot 'is a prime example of how public-private collaboration can unlock innovative solutions for cities,' said Tim Slusser, Detroit's chief mobility officer, in a statement. Detroit, the Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan Central and Newlab in 2022 launched the Advanced Aerial Innovation Region as a real-world testbed for next-generation drone technologies 'to move drone technology from concept to city-scale deployment,' according to a press release. The number of use cases for drones in city operations is 'phenomenally high,' said Matt Whitaker, director of mobility innovation platforms at Michigan Central. Detroit had already established a transportation innovation zone to streamline permitting for new mobility solutions such as drones, and Michigan Central helped the city get Federal Aviation Administration permissions to fly the drones, Whitaker said. For this project, working with aerial photographers FlyGuys and drone operations management system Airspace Link, deployed drones to identify thermal deficiencies such as insulation gaps and potential water infiltration in three municipal buildings. It used the data to create 3D models it paired with energy simulations to pinpoint targeted upgrades that could reduce the three buildings' HVAC energy use by up to 22%, according to the press release. The final reports give the city a tiered approach to retrofitting the buildings, such as targeted weatherization at the curtain wall, replacement of specific failing windows, continuous wall insulation and roof enhancements. 'We are helping the city of Detroit, through the Office of Sustainability specifically, to identify vulnerabilities for cost and climate challenges,' said co-founder and CEO Tarek Rakha. 'Our AI analyzes and categorizes building deficiencies and uses simulation to clearly state the return on investment once we identify an anomaly or a deficiency.' Rakha said the combination of drones and its AI platform is '20 times faster, five to 10 times more affordable and 50% more accurate than [assessing thermal deficiencies by] regular means — including using drones in general because drones can collect data but not analyze it.' The company's technology can scan 'a huge number of buildings in a fraction of the time at a fraction of the cost because we're using our own AI analytics,' Rakha said. 'That makes scaling quite accessible.' Recommended Reading Drone as First Responder program set for takeoff following Trump executive order Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Massachusetts dedicates $8B to transportation in FY2026 budget
This story was originally published on Smart Cities Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Smart Cities Dive newsletter. Massachusetts will direct $8 billion toward roads, bridges and public transportation over the next 10 years, according to the commonwealth's fiscal year 2026 budget, which Gov. Maura Healey signed July 4. The budget authorizes $1.25 billion for transportation in fiscal 2026, including $470 million for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, $115 million for regional transit grants and $35 million for income-eligible reduced fares at regional transportation authorities. The MBTA will also receive $548 million from fiscal 2024's Fair Share revenue, an additional tax imposed on those with incomes over $1 million. Like many public transit agencies, the MBTA encountered revenue shortfalls from reduced ridership and fare income in recent years. As federal rescue funds provided during the pandemic run out, these agencies may need to make hard choices to keep trains and buses running. The MBTA warned last November that it could face a $700 million operating budget gap in fiscal year 2026. In June, the agency's board of directors approved a $3.24 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year, narrowing its deficit from $307 million in 2025 to a projected $168 million in 2026 with help from the Fair Share appropriation and greater fare revenue. 'From students commuting to class to seniors accessing medical care to workers getting to their jobs on time, this funding helps us deliver more frequent, reliable, and accessible service,' MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said in a June 24 statement. The MBTA Advisory Board, comprised of elected officials from the agency's service district, recommended in a June 13 report that agency leaders focus on controlling headcount for positions unrelated to operations, reduce consultant costs and explain how the MBTA will address future deficits. Along with the MBTA, a portion of Fair Share funds will go to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The department approved an $18.5 billion capital investment plan in June that will go toward highways, bridges, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. The department also included more than $1 billion to the MBTA over five years for rail cars, bilevel commuter rail coaches, power system upgrades and other investments. 'Every transportation investment is an investment in people — connecting them to jobs, schools, healthcare, and each other,' Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt said in a statement. Recommended Reading Transit ridership is growing but still down from a decade ago: FTA report Errore nel recupero dei dati Effettua l'accesso per consultare il tuo portafoglio Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mobility data creates traffic modeling opportunities, privacy challenges: MIT panel
This story was originally published on Smart Cities Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Smart Cities Dive newsletter. Tech companies like Google, Apple and Tesla have changed the mobility data landscape, according to participants on a panel about the intricacies of mobility data hosted by the MIT Mobility Initiative in May. Governments have the opportunity to use private sector data, in conjunction with their own data, to create better transportation outcomes, panelists said. Some panelists said the various entities collecting data can make it challenging to determine who owns the data. As transportation and tech companies became increasingly intertwined over the past 20 years, private sector and open source data has exploded, Jinhua Zhao, professor of cities and transportation at MIT, said during the panel. Zhao said determining who owns that data can be tricky. He presented an example of someone driving their Tesla down a section of I-90 funded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation using Google Maps on their iPhone with Verizon Wireless service. 'In this case, who has a claim on my data?' Zhao said. 'Who defines the property right of data?' Even so, abundant data presents opportunities for transportation policymakers. Ralf-Peter Schäfer, vice president of product management traffic and travel information at mobility data company TomTom, said data can help reduce congestion and make roads safer. He cited an example in Tokyo, where a traffic light control company used TomTom data to optimize traffic signals and give guidance on speeds. 'We are in a revolution of traffic management and planning using data,' Schäfer said. Paul Friedman, co-founder and CTO of transportation data company StreetLight Data, said his company ingests almost 15 billion raw GPS points per day — more than the 13.7 billion Google searches conducted per day. Some aspects of data collection could be improved, he added, pointing out that the quality of data collected for pedestrians and cyclists is worse than vehicle data collection in the United States. 'I think the biggest trend that I'm pleased to see is that the acceptance of using data to make decisions and to validate decisions has grown,' Friedman said. Recommended Reading Smart loading zones help cities take back the curb Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla begins robotaxi rollout in Austin, Texas
This story was originally published on Smart Cities Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Smart Cities Dive newsletter. Tesla launched its robotaxi service Sunday in Austin, Texas. Rides are limited to an invited group of what appear mainly to be social media influencers and Tesla supporters. The robotaxi service will operate from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. Central Time in limited areas of Austin, according to Tesla. A Tesla safety monitor accompanies each ride, sitting in the front passenger seat. Riders are not allowed to sit in the driver's seat. Before Tesla can operate robotaxis without a human driver, it will have to comply with new Texas regulations signed into law June 20 that go into effect Sept. 1. Some state lawmakers asked Tesla to delay autonomous robotaxi operations until the new law takes effect, saying, 'We believe this is in the best interest of public safety and building public trust in Tesla's operations.' Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced plans to operate robotaxi service in California and Texas during an event in October featuring a two-seat driverless vehicle it called a Cybercab. Tesla Model Y SUVs are providing the robotaxi service in Austin instead. 'Probably for the first few months, they're going to have a lot of supervision,' Andrew Rocco, stock strategist at Zacks Investment Research, said in an interview. Rocco believes Musk wants to make sure that Tesla's Full Self Driving software 'is absolutely safe' before a full launch. Rocco is also optimistic about Tesla's success against competitors like Waymo and Zoox in the robotaxi industry. 'None of these [competitors], at the moment or anywhere in the near future, are going to be able to simply produce enough cars that are needed,' he said. Rocco sees Tesla ultimately commanding 60% to 70% of the robotaxi market, with Waymo at 20% and others divvying up the remainder. Musk said during the company's April 22 earnings call 'that there will be millions of Teslas operating autonomously, fully autonomously, in the second half of next year.' Waymo has 'more vehicles, more visibility' than other robotaxi companies, said Craig Melrose, global managing partner, advanced technologies at HTEC, a product development and digital engineering company. Melrose acknowledged, however, that Tesla has more autonomous driving data collected from its many vehicles on the road, and 'they may know something that none of us know.' Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said April 24 that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would develop a new framework more favorable to autonomous vehicles. That could help ramp up robotaxi deployment among U.S. cities, according to industry observers. Waymo said last week it wants to begin service in New York City with human drivers. The company is asking the state to change a state law prohibiting driverless vehicles. Melrose sees a potential future where robotaxis replace personal vehicle ownership. He points out that cars are 'extremely expensive' yet get little use on a daily basis. Tesla did not respond to a request for clarification on the safety monitor's role and ability to intervene to prevent an accident, or to a question on whether Tesla will comply with the new Texas AV regulations. Recommended Reading As robotaxis proliferate, safety, sustainability, traffic congestion concerns grow
