Traffic injuries are never accidents ("Boy's death, girls' injury have Berkeley focused on street safety," March 9). Yes, understanding what the walk signal means is important, but if we are really committed to preventing these unnecessary deaths and injuries, we should focus on what really matters: reducing the number of cars on the road in the first place.
The data are clear: In communities where more people walk or use public transit for travel, there are fewer pedestrian injuries. When roads are designed to have safety features such as bike lanes and curb buts, not only are people more likely to walk and bike safely but drivers are cued to drive more safely around bicyclists and pedestrians.
There is clearly a strong role for parents and children in traffic safety, but we also need strategies that ensure that roads and communities are designed for the safety of all travelers, not just drivers.
