Most people aren’t fans of the end of Daylight Saving Time which brings shorter days and can lead to disrupted sleep. But there’s another issue that most don’t think about when turning the clock back. Less daylight leads to greater traffic safety issues for pedestrians and cyclists. In fact, it’s estimated that 75 percent of pedestrian deaths occur between dusk and dawn. Just last year, Southern Nevada had 27 pedestrian deaths between October 1 and the end of the year, when days are shorter.
That’s why the Road Equity Alliance Project, or REAP, raises awareness of this issue with a yearly event that coincides with the end of Daylight Saving Time, which will occur on Nov. 3. This year, the sixth annual Dusk to Dawn Pedestrian safety campaign press conference will take place on Friday, Nov. 1 at Kindred Health Center located at 5110 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89146, near the busy intersection of Sahara Avenue and Decatur Boulevard.
Speakers including Clark County Commissioner Mike Naft, Congresswoman Dina Titus, RTC Deputy CEO David Swallow, REAP’s Director Erin Breen, and representatives from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Clark County School District Police and the Nevada State Police will be on hand to show their support and offer tips to motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists on how to stay safe as daylight decreases. Their advice is to slow down, wear seat belts, don’t drive impaired, walk in designated crosswalks and wear visible clothing.
The RTC is always looking for ways to make our roads safer and we have been making many enhancements to our system that relate to pedestrian safety. Not only do these improvements address safety, but they enhance the overall transit experience as well.
In the last five years, we have invested $29 million in lighting upgrades, solar-powered shelters, and relocating bus stops further from roadways.
- More than 1,750 standalone solar-powered lights have been installed at stops without shelters. Another 500 will be installed by year’s end.
- Older solar-powered shelters are being upgraded with efficient LED fixtures that are brighter and consume less energy.
For more information, visit the RTC safety and security web page or the Pedestrian Safety Nevada website.
