The narcissism of car-centrism, part 2: “Why U.S. pedestrian deaths are at their highest level in almost 30 years.”

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It’s actually possible to reduce the narcissism of car-centrism: “Unlike the U.S., the E.U. has found ways to redesign vehicles and roads to reduce pedestrian deaths.”

Just not in America, evidently.

Why U.S. pedestrian deaths are at their highest level in almost 30 years (PBS)

U.S. pedestrian deaths are at their highest level since 1990. Possible explanations include wider roads, sprawling cities, heavier traffic in residential areas due to navigation apps and increasing distractions from digital devices. And according to victims’ families and safety advocates, the problem is a crisis state and local governments have been slow to address. Arren Kimbel-Sannit reports.

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The Hubanks apartment complex is half-a-mile away from the signal crosswalks on Central and Seventh avenues. That’s a long way to walk for people who need to catch a bus to school or work.

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National advocacy groups say deaths like Keshawn’s are more common in low-income areas. It’s evident in Southern California, where residents in underserved neighborhoods are waiting for safer streets.

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The couple wants safer roads and safer drivers. They know changing laws and minds is a challenge. But it’s not impossible. The European Union has seen a 36 percent decline in pedestrian deaths between 2007 and 2016. Experts say it’s because, unlike the U.S., the E.U. has found ways to redesign vehicles and roads to reduce pedestrian deaths.

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