LOOK UP. SLOW DOWN. MAKE IT HOME. 

During National Traffic Awareness Month, we’re taking a closer look at the choices we make every time we travel—and the impact those choices can have on the people around us. Hear from two JEO team members as they share their perspectives on the importance of staying safe and the steps we can all take to make a difference. 

For Mark Lutjeharms, Transportation Senior Project Manager on our Traffic & Technology team, traffic safety is more than a professional responsibility. His experiences responding to serious crashes as part of his responsibilities in a prior public sector role have made the consequences of driving decisions deeply personal. Andrea Gebhart, Department Leader of our Planning and Engagement team, changed the way she saw traffic safety while working on Lincoln, Nebraska’s Safe Streets Lincoln: Vision Zero Action Plan. That experience turned statistics into a personal understanding of the people and communities behind them. 

In this Q&A, Mark and Andrea share what shaped their perspectives on traffic safety, what they have learned through their work, and the message they hope every driver, pedestrian, bicyclist, and roadway user will remember: look up, slow down, and make it home safely.  

• Why is traffic safety important to you personally? 

Mark: Transportation is about people. We can talk about operations, efficiency, capacity, and mobility, but safety has to come first. Everyone deserves to make it home safely, and those of us in the transportation industry have an obligation to do everything we reasonably can to allow that to happen. 

Andrea: Like Mark said, I see transportation safety as being about people and saving lives. We’ve become remarkably accustomed to the risks that come with moving through our communities. Our transportation system is shared, and so is the responsibility to make it safer—especially for our most vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, scooter and wheelchair users, and those in construction work zones. 

• Can you share a personal experience that shaped your perspective on transportation safety? 

Mark: During my time employed by the City of Lincoln, Nebraska, I sometimes responded to fatal or serious injury crashes.  One experience that has stayed with me is what I call my “shoe story,” which began with a crash on West O Street that tragically claimed the life of a 13-year-old girl who was crossing the street. Seeing something so personal (her shoe) left behind at a crash scene was a powerful reminder that behind every crash statistic is a person, a family, and a story. 

Andrea: Working on the City of Lincoln’s Safe Streets Lincoln: Vision Zero Action Plan fundamentally changed how I think about transportation safety. Statistics stopped being numbers and became people—neighbors, friends, and members of my community. 

Throughout that project, Mark would text members of our team screenshots of news reports whenever there was a crash that resulted in a serious injury or fatality. It made me realize how easily I had skimmed past similar stories in my own news and social feeds. The consequences of our transportation system became much more personal, and the opportunity to make it safer became much more real. 

• What motivates you to advocate for safer streets and transportation systems? 

Mark: Serious crashes are not simply an inevitable cost of mobility. We have proven strategies and technologies that can reduce both the frequency and severity of crashes. When we have the knowledge and tools to prevent deaths and serious injuries, we have a responsibility to use them. Every life saved represents a family that doesn’t have to receive a call that changes their lives forever. 

Andrea: Roughly 40,000 people are killed on U.S. roadways each year. If we experienced that scale of fatalities in other parts of our daily lives, we’d treat it like the public health crisis it is. Improving outcomes requires a collective shift in individual behavior, public expectations, policies, and the environments around us. On our streets, that means recognizing who is most vulnerable and creating a transportation system that protects them. 

• Describe a project you’ve worked on that has helped improve safety.

Mark: There are many, but a few recent examples stand out. Our work on Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plans is particularly meaningful, including the plan for my hometown of Lincoln. These efforts help communities understand where and why serious crashes are occurring and identify strategies to prevent them. 

Another project that stands out is Nebraska’s first Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) intersection near Humphrey. I was involved in both the initial study of alternatives and post-construction evaluation, so it was rewarding to see a safety concept move from analysis to implementation and evaluate how it performed in the real world. 

Andrea: What comes to mind isn’t one specific project, but a role I’ve played across many: helping people understand the “why” behind safety improvements. Roundabouts, rectangular rapid flashing beacons, flashing yellow arrows, and other changes can be unfamiliar or frustrating to users at first. I’ve helped explain how and why these strategies work so people better understand how to use them and make transportation safer for everyone. 

• What’s something you’ve learned through your work that you wish every road user knew? 

Mark: Speed kills, and seconds matter. Even relatively small increases in speed can dramatically affect a driver’s ability to react and the severity of a potential crash. A few seconds saved on a trip are never worth putting a life at risk. 

I also wish more people understood why transportation agencies use treatments such as roundabouts, RCUTs, and other alternative intersection designs. They may require us to change familiar habits or take a slightly different path, but they’re designed to reduce dangerous conflict points and prevent serious crashes. Sometimes a small inconvenience is the tradeoff for helping everyone get home safely. 

Andrea: Our transportation system isn’t only intended to move vehicles as quickly and efficiently as possible. Transportation systems must serve everyone: vehicles, motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and all roadway users. Sometimes what feels inefficient from behind the wheel is exactly what makes the system safer and more accessible for someone else. 

• What’s one thing you hope people remember every time they travel? 

Mark: Slow down, stay alert, and remember that the few seconds you might save are never worth someone’s life. Make safety an intentional choice every time you travel: buckle up, put the phone and other distractions away, drive sober, and obey the speed limit. Watch for and respect pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and construction work zones. Every person you encounter on the roadway is someone’s family member or friend. 

Andrea: Be present. Put the phone down. Take the earbuds out. Notice what’s happening around you and anticipate the unexpected. Remember that our streets are shared, but the risk isn’t shared equally. Recognize those who are more vulnerable than you and increase your tolerance for inconvenience when it means protecting others. 

What can you do to improve safety in your day-to-day activities or within your community? 

We’re committed to helping communities create safer transportation systems where everyone has a better chance of making it home safely. To learn more about our team and how we can help, reach out to Mark Lutjeharms at mlutjeharms@jeo.com or Andrea Gebhart at agebhart@jeo.com.