Sunday, May 08, 2016

Paging Jeff Gahan: From a safety standpoint, are vehicular speeds above 25 mph justifiable anywhere in downtown New Albany?


It should come as no surprise that lots and lots of lawyers understand the heavy truck vs.smaller car differential.


What Makes an Accident With a Semi-Truck Different From a Regular Car Accident?

... But, the clearest difference between a car accident and a semi-truck accident is that the impact can be much, much more severe solely based on the size and weight of a semi-truck (3,700 pounds of car vs. 80,000 pounds of truck). Because of this, it takes a semi a lot longer to stop than it does a car, especially if the truck is carrying a heavy load. This can become even more dangerous when a truck is on the highway and traveling at a high rate of speed.

Taking a lateral step, many of these same attorneys grasp the potential for mayhem in the heavy trucks or smaller cars vs. walkers. When so many of them base their sales pitch on the results of a five-year-old study commissioned by an organization that isn't numbered among the nation's bastions of crazed Commie agitation ...

Impact Speed and a Pedestrian’s Risk of Severe Injury or Death (2011; AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety)

... Results show that the average risk of severe injury for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle reaches 10% at an impact speed of 16 mph, 25% at 23 mph, 50% at 31 mph, 75% at 39 mph, and 90% at 46 mph. The average risk of death for a pedestrian reaches 10% at an impact speed of 23 mph, 25% at 32 mph, 50% at 42 mph, 75% at 50 mph, and 90% at 58 mph. Risks vary significantly by age. For example, the average risk of severe injury or death for a 70‐year‐old pedestrian struck by a car travelling at 25 mph is similar to the risk for a 30‐year‐old pedestrian struck at 35 mph.

These results could be used to inform efforts to improve pedestrian safety …

... you begin to see just how unconscionable the city of New Albany's obtuse and reactive street grid management program really is.

Charitably taking Jeff Gahan's "plan" for downtown New Albany in its best possible light, it's about "revitalization" via an urban experience predicated on walkability.

At the very same time, Gahan continues to promote a street grid intentionally calibrated to negate walkability owing to high speed vehicular traffic and a bizarre concurrent unwillingness to mold infrastructure to suit the needs of humans on foot (or riding bikes).

Apparently our mayor's grasp of reality is so excruciatingly feeble that he truly believes in the co-existence of polar opposites, whether awakening at 3:00 a.m. to admire brilliant sunshine, orpopping the top on an ice cold Bud Light Lime and proclaiming it "craft beer."

Even the AAA knows better. Has Gahan ever displayed an ability to learn anything that wasn't precast like Soviet concrete in kindergarten?

1 comment:

w&la said...

it's legal to drive 35 mph on the streets next to S Ellen Jones Elementary School. Of course, little children can move faster than our elected officials...