Episode Details

The U.S. stands out among peer countries for having the worst rate of traffic deaths. Approaching this issue from a public health angle can help to make roadways safer by focusing on population-level interventions rather than directing resources towards policing "bad apple" individuals. In this episode: Tiffany Joyce Smith, lead author of a new report on the role of enforcement in road safety, explains the value of a proactive approach to preventing crashes versus a reactive one.

Tiffany Joyce Smith, MPH, is a public health and mobility expert and program advisor with the Vision Zero Network.

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department. He served as the Baltimore City Commissioner of Health from 2005 to 2009.

• Right-Sizing the Role of Traffic Enforcement: Prioritizing Effective, Cost-Efficient and Equitable Improvements to Road Safety—Vision Zero Network

• Money Drove Criminal Justice System In Ferguson, DOJ Report Says—NPR

• The Surprising Benefits of Narrower Traffic Lanes—Public Health On Call (November 2023)

• Why Are So Many Pedestrians Getting Struck and Killed By Cars, and Why Aren't We Doing More To Stop It?—Public Health On Call (July 2023)