D027 HB Committee #07 Report #30

House of Bishops Committee 07 - Social Justice & United States Policy presents its Report #30 on Resolution D027 (Addressing Traffic Fatalities) and moves:

Concur

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 81st General Convention acknowledge and mourn the prevalence of fatalities due to traffic accidents including pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and passengers; recognize this as a justice issue due to the disparate impact that our road and transportation systems have on vulnerable populations, including impacts by race, disability status, age, and economic means; and seek for ways ensure that all people, especially children, can travel safely and be safe in their communities; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church, with the help of the Office of Government Relations and the Episcopal Public Policy Network, support policies at the local, state, national, and international levels of governance to reduce traffic fatalities and increase transportation safety by:

  • Prioritizing pedestrian, driver, and passenger safety in street design through use of traffic calming measures and investment in walkable communities;
  • Incentivizing vehicle designs that promote pedestrian safety as well as passenger safety;
  • Implementing policies to eliminate, minimize, or mitigate distracted or impaired driving;
  • Creating safe ways to share the road with cyclists, pedestrians, and riders of other small vehicles such as scooters, including protected bike lanes and high-visibility sidewalks;
  • Investing in expansive and flexible public transit networks, including high speed rail and bus rapid transit.

And be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church call upon car manufacturing and insurance companies to prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety in vehicle design; and that the Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church be tasked with engaging relevant companies in the Church’s investment portfolio on approaches to reduce traffic fatalities and promote pedestrian and cyclist safety; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church encourage congregations to assess both the transportation needs of their members and traffic safety needs of their parking lots and surrounding neighborhood, collaborate with local organizations on traffic safety issues, and advocate at the local level for improvements to reduce traffic fatalities.