Pedestrian fatalities have been increasing on roadways in busy urban areas — including in Phoenix. Substance abuse, distracted or speeding drivers and bigger, heavier vehicles are seen as sources of the rising roadway dangers. But transportation engineering experts such as Fulton Schools Professor Ram Pendyala say the problem can be remedied to a significant degree by better road design that prioritizes pedestrian safety. An investigation has revealed that many of the most dangerous streets for pedestrians have not been redesigned in decades.

See Also: Why are the streets of Phoenix so deadly for pedestrians?, KTAR News (Phoenix), July 17