Could US drivers see blue roads? Across the country, lawmakers and legislators continue to find new solutions to make the roads a safer place for all road users. While many of these efforts have been concentrated on increasing road traffic convictions, authorities may need to take inspiration from international roads, whereby the very design structure encourages safer driving practices and behaviors. These solutions provide a more holistic approach to reducing road traffic accidents and fatalities as opposed to relying on punishment alone.
Changing road infrastructure to support safe driving
Across the country, lawmakers and authorities are exploring more novel approaches towards making the roads safer for drivers and other road users. While this year has seen many states introduce stricter legislation and penalties for unlawful driving behavior convictions, there is a growing move to recognize that these efforts alone are not enough to reduce road accidents and stamp out unsafe driving behaviors.
This has sparked increased conversation about redesigning roads to promote safe driving practices. Maintaining the roads and creating infrastructure improvements helps drivers to make smart choices on the road and ensures that drivers are not forced into a position where they have to take on risky driving behavior while commuting.
On top of these infrastructure changes, other changes we are seeing more of across the country include reforming driving convictions in order not to unfairly target low-income offenders. Part of holistic driving interventions is ensuring that the associated penalties for driving convictions have an equitable effect on convicted drivers.
However, penalties such as driving fines often have more of a detrimental impact on low-income drivers than high-income ones, meaning these consequences are not meaningful for higher-income earners and also create additional problems by perpetuating the cycle of poverty. While road traffic violations should be punished no matter your income background, the punishment should not create further systemic divide.
The US may see blue lanes introduced
In line with redesigning roads to promote safe driving practices, US authorities may want to take note of efforts foreign leaders are taking. Locations like the Netherlands and London make use of different colored roads for cycling, with the former using red roads while the latter uses blue roads. This increases visibility of cyclists so that drivers know when to yield and stop instantly when they encounter one. Additionally, with cars banned from driving on these designated cycling paths, it helps drivers take note of where they should be more aware of cyclists.
“But it’s not just about visibility; it’s about cohesion, safety, and a willingness to design streets for people rather than cars,” describes a December 20, 2024 post by The Ethical Choice on bicycle lane colors.
While not yet present in the US, these design choices embrace a road system that encourages road users to share the road and be more wary of each other’s presence.
Embracing a holistic solution to road safety
By concentrating road safety efforts not just on vehicle drivers but also on ways to make other road users who make use of alternative means of transport, authorities are also encouraging a more sustainable transportation system, whereby passenger vehicles are not considered the only means necessary to travel.
Other locations across the country have begun to enact efforts in line with this, which punish drivers for endangering the lives of cyclists in particular. If the world is ever to meet its climate objectives, alternative modes of transport must be embraced, and this involves ensuring that the safety of road users who do not use a passenger vehicle will be prioritized and protected. A safer driving environment is not just one in whereby drivers follow the laws of the road, but also one that is not dominated only by cars.
