Chicago's NPR News Source

Traffic Deaths Are At A 20-Year High. What Makes Roads Safe (Or Not)?

Traffic Deaths Are At A 20-Year High. What Makes Roads Safe (Or Not)?

New York Police and Fire Department investigate the site of a car collision in Manhattan on March 5, 2021. - Six people, including two children, were reported injured after a two-car collision saw one car mount a sidewalk and destroy an outdoor dining structure. A white van crashed into a black Toyota Camry, and the driver of the van is being questioned by police on suspicion of Driving While Intoxicated. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Traffic fatalities have surged since the early days of the pandemic, reversing a persistent decline since the 1970s. Roads in the U.S. are now more dangerous than they've been in 20 years.

Vox's Marin Cogan tells us about the deadliest road in the country, a stretch of US-19 in Pasco County, Fla.

And we speak to Ryan Sharp, director of transportation and planning in Hoboken, N.J. That city has managed to bring traffic deaths to zero for the past four years.

This episode also features reporting from KCUR's Frank Morris.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

More From This Show
The Girl Scouts have been part of American childhood for generations. And now that quintessential experience is helping young girls, who are new to the United States get a sense of belonging. It comes through a Girl Scout troop based in one of New York City’s largest migrant shelters. The shelter has around 3,500 migrants, and all of the Girl Scouts are children of families seeking asylum. For the last few weeks, NPR’s Jasmine Garsd has been spending time with them, and brings us their their story. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy