This audio recording captures a keynote address given at a transportation conference in Kansas, where the speaker, Chuck, presents an alternative perspective on traffic safety trends observed during the pandemic. He challenges the prevailing narrative of increased reckless driving, proposing instead that reduced traffic congestion led to higher fatality rates on over-engineered roadways. The speaker introduces the concept of “forgiving design” and its unintended consequences in complex urban environments, advocating for a shift towards prioritizing people over vehicle flow in street design. Furthermore, the address touches upon the unsustainable financial model of transportation infrastructure and the need for a new approach given dwindling resources.

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