The Urban Transportation Commission has unanimously approved a resolution to adopt 1- to 2-foot narrower traffic lanes on larger Austin streets, reducing standard lane widths to 10 feet and constrained lanes to 9 feet, while maintaining 11 feet for lanes heavily used by larger vehicles. This shift aims to improve road safety based on research, including a Johns Hopkins study, which shows that 12-foot lanes are linked to higher crash rates due to promoting faster speeds and inadequate safety infrastructure. The recommendations align with national transportation standards, promoting a safer urban environment.
According to the National Association of City Transportation Officials, narrower lanes promote safer driving conditions, aligning with findings that wider lanes can lead to increased crash rates.
A 2023 study by Johns Hopkins indicates that lanes around 12 feet wide are linked to higher crash rates, while narrower lanes between 9 and 10 feet are safer.
Collection
[
|
...
]