Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In

In San Rafael, California, a woman is dead and a man is in critical condition after a dump truck driver, who claimed not to see them as they were crossing the street, turned left and ran them over in the crosswalk last week. It's just one of countless similar tragedies playing out in the U.S. In this case, writes David Edmondson at the Greater Marin, simply giving people a walk signal before turning drivers get a green light could have prevented the loss of life:

This is the spot where Olga Rodriguez was killed while trying to cross the street last week. Image: ##http://thegreatermarin.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/an-entirely-preventable-death-in-san-rafael/## The Greater Marin##
This is the spot where Olga Rodriguez was killed while trying to cross the street last week. Photo: ##http://thegreatermarin.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/an-entirely-preventable-death-in-san-rafael/##The Greater Marin##
false

The fix is fairly straightforward: give pedestrians a head start when crossing (something known as a Leading Pedestrian Interval, or LPI). After the light on Heatherton turns red to southbound traffic, pedestrians crossing Heatherton would get a walk sign but Third Street would stay red. Three or four seconds later, Third Street would turn green.

Whether or not the truck driver could have seen Olga or her companion before he hit them, they would have been much harder to miss had they had a short head start. As well, rather than trust drivers to give pedestrians priority, the structure of the intersection gives priority to pedestrians instead.

The LPI isn’t just window dressing. A study by Michael King in New York City found that a pedestrian head start leads to a 12 percent reduction in crashes over the baseline or 28 percent reduction compared to unmodified intersections, which saw crashes increase by 17 percent over the course of the study. While crashes did still occur, their severity declined 55 percent overall and 68 percent in comparison to unmodified intersections.

Elsewhere on the Network today: The Raleigh Connoisseur reports that the city is going to turn a $1.1 million air quality grant into 27 miles of bike infrastructure. UrbanReviewSTL says the near south side of St. Louis has become less of a food desert with the recent influx of new grocers. And Streets.mn argues that the arrival of self-driving cars will make Minnesota's road expansion plans look even more foolish.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

The ‘Problem’ With E-Bikes? The Super Fast Illegal Ones

New Yorkers are riding illegal vehicles marketed as e-bikes with little to no-consequences, and it's a safety problem.

October 21, 2025

The ‘War on Cars’ Is Worth Fighting — And Here’s What Life Might Look Like When We Win

A first book from the prolific podcast hosts offers a solid foundation for would-be advocates against automobility — and some new ammunition for veterans.

October 21, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Carnage All Over Edition

Monday's papers were a blood tide of crashes. Plus other news.

October 21, 2025

‘Outrage’: Pols — And Even DOT Boss — Protest Trump’s Block on 34th St. Busway

A huge rally in Midtown to urge President Trump to get his meathooks off our transit included DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, who is poised to capitulate.

October 20, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: Uncharted Territory Edition

"No Kings" means hands off our busway. Plus the news.

October 20, 2025

More Tantrums: City Halts 34th Street Busway After Threat from Trump DOT

The feds threatened to cut city and state funding if New York doesn't halt all work on the 34th Street busway so the FHWA can review the project.

October 17, 2025
See all posts