"What am I talking about? Let's start with the basics: The first day of school is the first day of the worst part of the year for those of us who get around on foot or on a bike. It is the day when tens of thousands of car drivers return to the streets from whatever vacation home to which they had decamped. It is the day when roads congest, when calm evaporates, when drivers wound."
"Last year was particularly bad: In the 10 weekdays before the first day of public school on Sept. 5, there were 2,441 reported crashes citywide, injuring 1,520 people (some crashes have multiple victims). In the 10 weekdays after schools opened, there were 2,392 reported crashes, injuring 1,717 people. That's an increase in total reported crashes of more than 15 percent and an increase in total injuries of more than 13 percent, as the chart below shows:"
Public school reopenings coincide with a large surge in motorists on city streets, increasing congestion and hazardous conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. Data comparing the 10 weekdays before and after the start of school show a notable rise in injuries and a percentage increase in reported crashes. One recent year recorded 2,441 crashes and 1,520 injuries before school opened versus 2,392 crashes and 1,717 injuries afterward, reflecting over 15 percent higher crashes and over 13 percent higher injuries. Neighborhood residents report frustration with lax street-safety enforcement and dangerous driving behavior near schools.
Read at Streetsblog
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