June 24, 2024 Help spread the word about traffic safety The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s (CMAP) new Speed Management report details how speed impacts traffic safety and how northeastern Illinois can address the regional traffic safety crisis. You can help CMAP raise awareness about the traffic safety crisis and the report’s findings and recommendations. Below, find sample text and customizable graphics you can use on your community’s social media, newsletter, and website. Sample text for your newsletter Newsletter header graphics are linked below. Sample 1: Reducing speeds is critical to improving traffic safety Northeastern Illinois is experiencing a traffic safety crisis. Traffic fatalities, particularly among pedestrians and bicyclists, have been increasing since 2014 and speed has contributed to 35 to 40 percent of fatal crashes in Illinois. Why is this happening? The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s Speed Management report explores the role of speeding in increased deaths and serious injuries on our region’s roads. It provides recommendations for street designs, speed limit policies, education, and equitable enforcement that can help keep all road users safe. So now what? Safer streets can start with you. Understand the risks, slow down, share the road, and pass these messages along to your community. Join our region in making travel safe for everyone. Check out the Speed Management report and summary for more information Sample 2: Slow down to keep all road users safe Did you know that there is a 45 percent likelihood of a pedestrian dying when hit by a car at 30 mph compared to just a 5 percent likelihood at 20 mph? Or that today’s modern vehicles are significantly larger and heavier than in previous decades, meaning they are more dangerous to pedestrians and bicyclists in a collision? These are just a couple findings from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s Speed Management report, which explores how speed has contributed the alarming rise in traffic fatalities in northeastern Illinois over the past decade. Slowing down is critical to improving traffic safety in our region. The report provides recommendations for street designs, speed limit policies, education, and equitable enforcement that can help keep all road users safe. Safer streets also start with YOU. We encourage you to understand the risks of speeding, slow down, share the road, and pass these messages along to your community. Check out the Speed Management report and summary for more information Social media posts Please feel free to share CMAP’s Speed Management post(s) linked here (Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn) and/or use sample language below and provided graphics to post from your own channels. Please tag CMAP using the following handles. Thank you! Facebook @cmapillinois Instagram @cmapillinois LinkedIn @Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Sample 1: Safer streets start with our communities, and slowing down is a great place to start. [Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s PLEASE TAG] Speed Management report explores how speeding has contributed to northeastern Illinois’ traffic safety crisis and what communities can do to help drivers slow down. cmap.is/speed-management Sample 2: For posting during October (Pedestrian Safety Month) Safer streets start with our communities, and slowing down is a great place to start. This #PedestrianSafetyMonth, we’re spotlighting [Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s PLEASE TAG] Speed Management report, which explores how speeding has contributed to northeastern Illinois’ traffic safety crisis and what communities can do to help drivers slow down. #RoadwaySafety cmap.is/speed-management Sample 3: Driving even just a little bit slower can make a big difference: when average vehicle speeds drop from 30 mph to 26 mph, the average pedestrian fatality risk decreases by 64%. Learn more about the risks of speeding — and the benefits of slowing down — in [Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s PLEASE TAG] Speed Management report. cmap.is/speed-management Sample 4: Traffic fatalities have been increasing in northeastern Illinois since 2014 and speed was a factor in 35-40% of traffic fatalities and serious injuries in the state. It’s time to slow down to protect all road users. Check out share [Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s PLEASE TAG] Speed Management report for more on how speeding impacts safety and what our communities can do to make roads safer. cmap.is/speed-management Sample 5: Northern Illinois is experiencing a traffic safety crisis, but not everyone is impacted equally. Black residents in our region make up a disproportionately high number of traffic fatalities and higher-speed roads have historically been constructed in low-income areas and communities of color. [Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s PLEASE TAG] Speed Management report looks at how our region can address this crisis while improving equity so that all people feel safe walking, biking, accessing transit, and driving. cmap.is/speed-management Graphics Customizable graphics (in Canva) Before making edits, go to File > Make a copy. Then, insert your community’s logo and download the graphics to share from your channels. Customizable Facebook graphics template Customizable Instagram graphics template Customizable newsletter header template General graphics Download Facebook, Instagram, and newsletter header images from CMAP’s Flickr page. Article by Kaitlin Cernak Stay connected with your community Newsletter sign-up Opens in a modal Latest news Click to read Safe Travel for All media toolkit Posted on Click to read Safe Travel for All media toolkit Click to read You can help improve traffic safety in northeastern Illinois Posted on Click to read You can help improve traffic safety in northeastern Illinois Click to read I-290 Eisenhower Expressway/Blue Line Corridor project gets boost Posted on Click to read I-290 Eisenhower Expressway/Blue Line Corridor project gets boost Click to read Reducing vehicle speeds is critical to improving traffic safety Posted on Click to read Reducing vehicle speeds is critical to improving traffic safety