Traffic Deaths Increase at 'Alarming Rate'

(November 17, 2024)

Today is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

Traffic deaths and serious crash injuries have increased at an alarming rate.

In the first half of this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 18,720 people have died in motor vehicle traffic crashes.

In Nebraska, through last week, 221 people have died. In Omaha, 41 lives lost, nearly three times the number of homicides this year.

"It's unacceptable," said Mayor Jean Stothert, at an event recognizing World Day of Remembrance at the National Safety Council. "This is why Omaha is a Vision Zero city."

Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

"These deaths are preventable, we can make a difference," said National Safety Council-Nebraska Chapter President Eric Koeppe.

Nebraska Department of Transportation data shows failure to wear seat belts and distracted driving are the most frequent causes of traffic crashes and deaths; 70% of Nebraska traffic fatalities in the last five years involved persons who were not buckled up.

"We need motorists to do their part," said Nebraska Highway Safety Administrator Bill Kovarik. "Just by wearig a seat belt will increase your chances of surviving a crash by 45%."

Omaha has an ambitious goal, to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2045.

"It's not enough to say we will just reduce traffic deaths. Zero must be the only goal," said Mayor Stothert. "Vision Zero is a common sense goal that we are working hard to achieve, so everyone using our roads arrives safely."

The City of Omaha has received federal funding to study areas identified as high-injury corridors :

• Ames Avenue from Florence Boulevard to 72^nd Street
• Cuming Street from Northwest Radial Highway to Military, from 27^th Street to 72^nd
• The urban core from the Missouri River to Saddle Creek, Cuming to Leavenworth
• West Maple, from Interstate 680 to Waterloo.

There are also a dozen priority projects around the city including installing pedestrian islands, traffic calming, road diets, and traffic signal improvements.

Next steps include stablishing a Fatal Crash Commission to look at every crash and make recommendations for safety improvements, a safe routes to school plan, and a pedestrian safety zone policy.

"The World Day of Remembrance is a somber reminder that every life lost is one too many," said Mayor Stothert.

For more information about Vision Zero Omaha, visit https://www.omahavisionzero.com.

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