The War on Cars
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EPISODE 129: Killed by a Traffic Engineer
🕑 Added 2024-06-25 10:01:01 +0000 UTCHello!
Because it has the word “engineering” right in there, the field of traffic engineering is something most people assume is governed by scientific studies and rational rules. But a new book, written by a traffic engineer himself, argues that is not the case at all. In Killed by a Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion That Science Underlies Our Transportation System, Wes Marshall, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Denver, says that the idea that the design of our transportation system is based on science couldn't be further from the truth.
By examining a century's worth of history, studies and old professional journals, Marshall argues that much of what forms the basis of modern traffic engineering needs to be completely reevaluated so that safety is not merely an afterthought but the guiding principle of road design.
Speaking as people who understand provocative titles and why it's important to challenge the status quo, we were delighted to have Wes on the podcast to talk about his compelling and convincing new book. We hope you'll read it.
Happy summer! Stay cool out there!
All the best,
Aaron, Sarah and Doug
PS Pick up a copy of Killed by a Traffic Engineer and books by all of our podcast guests at our official Bookshop.org page.
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Comments
Daniel Keough
I just got a copy, will start it soon! also, when searching for a link to KBATE through WOC website, i couldn't find it anywhere. Eventually after I had ordered it elsewhere, I did see a link and at that moment it was on backorder. If WOC could from their website provide links from each show to that author's book, I bet you would sell more of their books.
Jen C
I just got my copy of the book after hearing several interviews with Wes. I am glad he has done the homework finally, and yes it is shocking how the foundation of US road and street design is built on quicksand. I find it egregious though that a professional occupation can be this much of a failure - including for moving cars! Like Sarah I am incredulous that all of these guys - yeah mostly guys - can be ignorant of all the reams of other research and innovations in Europe and elsewhere. From my own experience working with city transportation + consultants, there is also no systemic post-project review process to learn what worked, what didn't, and make appropriate changes. That said, from Sustainable Safety & similar approaches they should already be leaps and bounds ahead. Far from science-based, engineers seem to work within cultural conditioning, car-brain + unwilingness to ride out the inevitable driver backlash for a few months every project, & often-false idea that following outdated book guidelines prevents lawsuits and liability vs avoiding the crashes, injury & death in the 1st place. Oh, and why do engineers vs other professionals on planning teams get the final say anyway? Where is the insurance industry to push for change? Or as car-dependent businesses, as long as they can raise rates np? At my advancing age I am so disheartened that there will be truly meaningful change here in my lifetime. I am glad to see engineers and professors like Wes pushing for it. And on we soldier in the WoC.
