Now Reading: How Realistic is Target Zero?
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How Realistic is Target Zero?
Q: You say the goal of Target Zero is to eliminate all fatal crashes, but that’s not a very realistic goal, is it? Why set an unrealistic goal?
A: Allow me to make the goal even harder. The goal of Target Zero is to eliminate all fatal and serious injury crashes. How’s that for a big reach? Impossible? In the past when I’ve talked with people about Target Zero, I’ve described it as an aspirational goal; something we should always aim for, even if we never quite get there. And on one level that makes sense. If we instead set a goal of reducing traffic fatalities by half we’re sort of accepting that over 18,000 people will still die in crashes in the US. Yep, if you double that, you’ll be close to the 36,560 total traffic fatalities for 2018. Better to aspire to an impossible goal and achieve milestones along the way than to reach an achievable goal and think our work is done. Or so I thought.
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Alan Beckley
I’ve thought about the idea of separating opposing traffic. Wide grassy medians are often used on higher speed freeways to good effect; why can’t we incorporate a type of median on single lane rural roads where speeds may reach 50 mph or more? A quick Google search shows many brands of lane separator curb systems that could be utilized with less cost than concrete or asphalt. They could be used everywhere yellow center lines exist. It’s the same principle as bowling alley bumper guards!