Ann Arbor’s Pedestrian Safety Crisis

by Kathy Griswold

This past holiday weekend was filled with disheartening social media disinformation. But equally concerning is the misleading data being promoted regarding our pedestrian crash rate—which continues to rise alarmingly for serious and fatal crashes. Averaging in pandemic-era statistics to engineer an artificially low crash rate is unacceptable (see Vision Zero report, page 43). Furthermore, focusing on the total crash rate—which includes property-damage-only incidents—effectively “camouflages” the critical level of serious and fatal injuries. It is worth noting that reported property-damage-only crashes are trending down due to changes in insurance industry policies, not city actions.

Instead of trading political barbs, we must focus on actionable solutions. At a recent crash analysis seminar, a Strong Towns advisor concurred that a proactive approach to maintaining our public right-of-way is preferred and standard practice in safe communities.

To address this crisis, I propose four urgent, controllable measures:

1. Clear the Line of Sight: Obstructions from overgrown vegetation and improper signage are at an all-time high. In some cases, vegetation covers STOP signs and crosswalk signs as reflected on A2 Fix It. This places an undue burden on our community standards officials and directly threatens pedestrians. In addition, in the post-crash analysis, staff measure the line of sight to determine if obstructions contributed to the crash. We must educate the public and clear these sightlines now, before a crash occurs.
2. Enforce Consistency: We must strictly comply with the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD). Consistency in signage improves driver predictability and safety. Signage creates a common, simple language that provides for instant recognition and immediate response in all situations. (MMUTCD noncompliant crash site.)
3. Stop Delaying Infrastructure Fixes: When a severe crash occurs, we must conduct an immediate site analysis and aggressively improve the site. We cannot continue kicking these critical safety upgrades down the road into multi-year Capital Improvement Plans. We are experiencing a crisis; we need to fund and act accordingly. (Example of Green and Glacier Way with two serious pedestrian crashes in three years. No action taken and “quick build” funds diverted to Catherine bike way.)
4. Educate on the “Double-Threat” Condition: We must launch a targeted public education campaign regarding our local crosswalk law. Too many serious crashes are caused by this “double-threat” scenario, including when a driver in the far lane stops, the pedestrian steps into the crosswalk and the driver in the near lane fails to stop. This condition has contributed to multiple crashes, including the fatal crash of a student near Huron High School. The “double threat” is more than just two lanes moving in the same direction.

Speeding and distracted driving are undeniable dangers, but they do not absolve the city from taking immediate action on the structural factors entirely within our control. Let’s stop parsing the data to minimize the problem and start doing the proactive work required to save lives.

Kathy Griswold is a former Ann Arbor City Council member.