MassDOT Posts Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment Online
- Implement speed management to realize safer speeds,
- Address top-risk locations and populations,
- Take an active role to affect change in vehicle design, features, and use,
- Accelerate research and adoption of technology,
- Double down on what works, and,
- Implement new approaches to public education and awareness.
- Safe passing: drivers must provide a safe passing distance of at least 4 feet when passing VRU such as pedestrians and bicyclists.
- Rear red-light requirement: bicyclists are required to use a front white light and rear red light and rear reflector when riding at night.
- Safer speed limits: the process for municipalities to alter speed limits in thickly settled areas from 30 mph to 25 mph has been clarified.
- Truck safety devices: state-owned and contracted heavy trucks will be required to be equipped with convex mirrors, cross-over mirrors, and sideguards.
- Crash reporting: data will be collected regarding Vulnerable User Crashes, adding 19 new fields to crash data already collected. The MassDOT IMPACT system has been modified to accommodate the new fields of data. In addition, the Registry of Motor Vehicles has modified the crash report forms to capture the new information and soon law enforcement agencies will start submitting the data. For more information on crashes in the state, please visit the IMPACT dashboard: https://apps.impact.dot.state.ma.us/cdp/home
- The IMPACT website data as of 11/15/2023 had a total of 105,796 crashes in Massachusetts in 2023, and, of those, 297 were fatalities, 1,434 involved pedestrians, and 1,105 involved bicyclists.
The IMPACT website data as of 11/15/2023 had a total of 105,796 crashes in Massachusetts in 2023, and, of those, 297 were fatalities, 1,434 involved pedestrians, and 1,105 involved bicyclists.
For more information on the Massachusetts Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment: https://www.mass.gov/doc/2023-
A copy of the Massachusetts Strategic Highway Safety Plan is online: https://www.mass.gov/info-
World Day of Remembrance events this year in Massachusetts include an event in Worcester on Sunday, November 19, at 3:00 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church, 90 Main Street.
Tags: MassDOT,