Introducing: the Streetsblog California Index*
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A few seemingly random numbers on traffic safety.
Number of people who die in crashes on U.S. roads every day: 100
Estimated number of people who have died in U.S. crashes caused by speeding since 2016: 10,000
Portion of U.S. traffic fatalities in 2008 that were “non-occupant fatalities”–pedestrians, bicyclists, and others not in the vehicles that crashed: 14%
In 2017: 19%
Portion of surveyed consumers who say that distracted driving is a problem: 85%
Who say they are a “safe driver”: 90%
Who admit they use electronic devices while driving often enough to be categorized as “addicted”: 47%
Average amount of time more than the average U.S. driver that those people “addicted” to their electronic devices spend driving: 150%
Average number of miles more than the average driver that they drive: 760%
Actual portion of drivers who use their phones while driving at least once per day: 60%
Average number of minutes per hour distracted drivers spend on their phone: 3.5 minutes
How far a car going 55 mph travels in 3.5 minutes: 2.3 miles
California’s state rank on list of most distracted driving: 36
Portion of luxury car drivers who cut off pedestrians walking in a crosswalk: 30%
Of drivers of less fancy cars that do: 7%
*with apologies to, and affection for, both Harper’s Index and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s Tube Times, from whom we totally ripped off this idea
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