MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – If you’ve ridden a bike or gone for a run near a busy road, you know it can be dangerous.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is including pedestrians and cyclists in its updated safety plan for the first time.
TDOT updates its strategic highway safety plan every four years.
This new plan includes a first-ever safety assessment for “vulnerable road users.” This includes pedestrians, cyclists and any non-motorized transportation users.
They say the goal is to take a proactive approach towards zero traffic deaths. While much more needs to be done, TDOT says they’re starting to see progress.
This year, there have been 37 fewer pedestrian and cyclist deaths than this time last year.
A TDOT spokesperson says even one death is too many:“Honestly, the only number that counts there is zero. And that’s a goal that we have, that’s a goal that we have every day. The top priority of TDOT is to get people to and from their destinations efficiently and, most importantly, as safely as possible.”TDOT has invested millions in safety projects on its roads, like adding bike paths and sidewalks, and they say more is to come.With this latest update of the plan, they say they can pinpoint the best ways to reduce serious injuries and deaths on the roads. Click here to sign up for our newsletter! Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline. Copyright 2024 WMC. All rights reserved.
Continue reading the original article at: www.actionnews5.com