Crypto News: The biggest traffic safety success story of 2022

The US is in the midst of a traffic safety crisis. More than 42,000 Americans died in car crashes in 2021, a 16-year high — and a stark contrast to the situation in most European countries, where road deaths have been declining steadily.

But one US city has bucked the trend: Jersey City, New Jersey, is on track to close out 2022 without a single traffic fatality, in what may be the biggest Vision Zero success story of the year — with the caveat that the milestone only reflects streets maintained by the municipality. How did they do it? Local officials were able to put in place several design and policy interventions to prioritize streets for pedestrians and cyclists, contributor John Surico reports today on CityLab: How Jersey City Got to Zero Traffic Deaths On Its Streets

As we await statistics on how traffic safety fared in the US and abroad this year, and what's to come in 2023, take a look back at some of our 2022 coverage. (To keep up with our latest stories, check out traffic safety story thread.)

— Linda Poon

US Traffic Safety Is Getting Worse, While Other Countries Improve

The rising rate of road deaths in the US continues to defy global trends. Here's what traffic planners in other nations could teach their American counterparts.

Why 'Vision Zero' Hit a Wall

The traffic safety movement has saved lives across the European countries that adopted its principles. But in the US, deaths in many participating cities have continued to rise.

How Finland Put Traffic Crashes on Ice

The Nordic nation's rate of vehicle fatalities is a fraction of the toll in the US, despite a harsh climate and ice-covered streets. Here's how the Finns do traffic safety.

Tiny Cars, Big Opportunity

Electric minicars are taking off globally, driven by advances in battery tech and growing climate concerns. Could they become the next big thing in the US?

When Cities Made Monuments to Traffic Deaths

A century ago, cars killed pedestrians and cyclists in record numbers. As traffic deaths rise again, it's time to remember how US cities once responded to this safety crisis.

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