My question is, why have pedestrian fatalities risen in such an environment?
Since there are fewer lanes of auto traffic to cross, one might think there’d be less. But I see two possibilities:
1) the fewer lanes encourage more people to make a dash for it and/or enable the motor traffic to move at a higher speed, and/or
2) as it seems there in with such configurations in Times Square in NYC, the signage and lights don’t well reflect what is going on at such relatively unfamiliar intersections, and pedestrians get confused.
Well; there will STILL be about the same AMOUNT of cars in those fewer lanes.
To get the same VOLUME of traffic down the road, a speed increase HAS to occur, and the cars would HAVE to be running CLOSER together.
Seems like it would be MORE deadly for someone to cross!
Think of a broad, slowly moving river, that gets narrowed down to go through a canyon.
I’ve noticed NYC has gone to great lengths (maybe only in certain areas) to reduce contact between cars and pedestrians; many blocks have a fence-like barrier that only opens at corners to discourage jaywalking, and the cops will ticket jaywalkers - not as revenue, but just to encourage people to evolve into First Worlders. I’m no fan of NYC, but they’ll go to great lengths to makes sure “the spice flows” smoothly. Outside of commercial areas, it is a whole different ballgame - a whole different world, really.
It is possible that sight lines have been reduced for both drivers and pedestrians. Right hook collisions are common when drivers are anxious about the congestion and take chances.
Right on red provisions are also ped killers.