Reduce Speed Limits to Minimize Potential Harm and Maximize the Health Benefits of Street Trees
2024
Xiaoqi Feng | Michael Navakatikyan | Thomas Astell-Burt
Urban greening is threatened by the concern that street trees increase traffic-related injury/death. Associations between all serious and fatal traffic crashes and street tree percentages were examined in Sydney, Australia. Associations were adjusted for confounding factors relating to driver behavior (speeding, fatigue, and use of alcohol) and road infrastructure, including alignment (e.g., straight, curved), surface condition (e.g., dry, wet, ice), type (e.g., freeway, roundabout), and speed limit. Models indicated that 10% more street trees were associated with 3% and 20% higher odds of serious or fatal injuries and 20% tree collisions on roads of any speed, respectively. However, further analysis stratified by speed limit revealed contrasting results. Along roads of 70 km/h or greater, 10% more street trees were associated with 8% higher odds of serious or fatal injury and 25% higher odds of death. Comparable associations were not found between street trees and serious or fatal injuries along roads below 70 km/h. Reducing speed limits below 70 km/h saves lives and may mitigate risks of serious or fatal traffic accidents associated with street trees, enabling greener, cooler, healthier cities.
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