A narrow median on Central Avenue in Nob Hill in Albuquerque, pictured May 2023. The state Transportation Department on Thursday provided an update on its effort to eliminate all traffic deaths in New Mexico, which is consistently ranked first nationally for pedestrian and other traffic-related deaths. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source NM)
With enough coordination, education, planning and proactivity, New Mexico can eliminate traffic deaths and no longer rank as the deadliest state for pedestrians, a state transportation official told lawmakers Thursday.
Amy Whitfield, who is spearheading the New Mexico Transportation Department’s “Target Zero” initiative, laid out the many factors contributing to the state’s place atop the list of deadliest states for pedestrians, an unwanted designation it’s had for years…