Agenda Summary
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Commending the actions taken to improve the safety of the municipal fleet.
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Official Text
WHEREAS: Communities in the United States face an increasing epidemic of vehicle crashes, with an estimated 42,795 people killed in car crashes in 2022, with 434 traffic fatalities in Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS: Approximately a quarter of the victims of car crashes in Massachusetts were either riding bicycles or pedestrians, with 9 bicycle riders and 98 pedestrians killed; and
WHEREAS: Speeding is estimated to be a factor in 29 percent of fatal crashes, and was the primary factor in 11,057 deaths in 2021; and
WHEREAS: Even non-fatal impacts can cause serious injury and psychological trauma, and according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation crash data portal there were a total of 707 crashes, with 31 pedestrians and 47 bicycle riders struck, in 2022 on Somerville’s streets; and
WHEREAS: Somerville recognizes that Safer Vehicles and Safer Speeds are key elements of the Safe System Approach in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2022 National Roadway Safety Strategy and are consistent with Somerville’s Vision Zero Action Plan; and
WHEREAS: Vehicle safety technology continues to advance. After-market technology known as intelligent speed assistance (ISA), is available to retrofit vehicles to use GPS to adhere to posted speed limits; and
WHEREAS: The City has a responsibility to model safe practices for the community, and a focus on the safety of vehicles operated by the City can help reduce traffic fatalities and injuries to all road users, including vehicle operators and members of the public; and
WHEREAS: The City has already taken steps to pilot ISA and in the fiscal year 2024 budget the Fleet Management division included a goal to increase the number of speed limiters from 9 to 17; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED: That the Somerville City Council commends the actions already taken by the City to improve the safety of th...
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