Walking can get you killed in a motor vehicle accident, and things are not getting better for pedestrians according to new research released by the Governors’ Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
The GHSA is a national non-profit safety advocacy organization comprised of state highway safety officials, dedicated to a goal of “… zero deaths on the nation’s roadways.”
Deadly Trend Confirmed for Pedestrian Accidents
It’s a well-respected report. Each year, the GHSA releases several traffic safety research reports concerning highway safety and traffic accident dangers in each state as well as nationwide. These are compiled by recognized experts like Richard Retting, who is responsible for the GHSA’s February 2018 pedestrian accident study.
For the second straight year here in the United States, the GHSA warns that almost 6000 pedestrians died in motor vehicle accidents.
Nationally, 16% of fatal traffic accidents involve a pedestrian death.
See, Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2017 Preliminary Data prepared for the Governors’ Highway Safety Association by Richard Retting of Sam Schwartz Consulting.
Experts confirm that the earlier 2016 statistics were not an anomaly. It’s a significant development in traffic fatalities.
Before 2016, pedestrian traffic deaths had not been this high since 1983.
Safety advocates are very concerned about these new findings. Why? Until 2016, walking was not such a dangerous thing to do. Now, record numbers of people are dying in motor vehicle accidents where cars (and minivans, trucks, SUVs, etc.) are hitting people who are walking near the vehicle’s route.
From GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins:
“Two consecutive years of 6,000 pedestrian deaths is a red flag for all of us in the traffic safety community. These high levels are no longer a blip but unfortunately a sustained trend. We can’t afford to let this be the new normal.”
Factors Contributing to the Rising Number of Pedestrian Deaths
There is no easy answer to protecting pedestrians from being killed in motor vehicle accident. It is a complicated reality according to the new GHSA Report.
Walking is Popular
For one thing, walking is becoming an increasingly popular way to get around. Report, page 5. As a mode of transportation, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) reveals:
- More and more people are opting to walk to work at least once a week; and
- Almost 4 Million Americans walk to work every day.
Moreover, walking is considered a healthy means of exercise. It’s also a source of pleasure for many adults. And, of course, there are also the children, tweens, and teens walking each day to and from school, extracurricular events, or just to visit a nearby friend or coffee shop.
Contributing Factors to Walking Dangers
Among contributing issues in the rising number of fatal pedestrian accidents over the past two years may be the following factors, according to the research:
Distractions Caused By Smartphones
The GHSA research confirms that there was an astounding 236% increase in active smartphone use from 2010 to 2016. Distractions caused by phones being used both by drivers as well as those walking on foot are a huge issue in pedestrian fatalities caused by traffic accidents. Report, page 4.
Speeding
Driving too fast to stop or avoid someone walking on foot is a major cause of fatal pedestrian accidents. The GHSA Report supports this finding with the experience of New York City.
Once that municipality lowered its speed limits and its police pushed hard to issue tickets for speeding, there was a “sharp decrease” in NYC pedestrian accidents. Report, page 28-29.
Drunk Drivers and Drunk Pedestrians
Alcohol was a contributing factor in almost half (46%) of the fatal motor vehicle accidents where a pedestrian was killed in 2016. Report, page 8.
- An estimated 13% of these fatal pedestrian accidents reported a drunk driver (where the driver had a BAC level above the legal limit).
- Almost one-third of people who died while walking alongside a roadway were found to have blood alcohol content (BAC) levels exceeding the legal limit. These pedestrians were legally drunk at the time of their fatal motor vehicle accident.
Marijuana Use in States with Legalized Recreational Marijuana
There has been a significant increase in pedestrian deaths in states where recreational marijuana use has been legalized. These are the states of Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Report, page 4.
Danger to Pedestrians in Indiana and Illinois
In our next post, we delve into how this new revelation that for pedestrians, 2017 is the “2nd Year of 25-Year High Level of Death” that translates into the risks faced by anyone walking on foot in Indiana and Illinois.
For more on the dangers facing pedestrians, see:
- Halloween Is Dangerous: Highest Number of Fatal Child Pedestrian Accidents Happen on October 31st
- Fatal Pedestrian Accidents: Risk of Pedestrian Death Breaking Records
- Ride a Bicycle or Take a Walk in Indiana or Illinois: Rising Danger of Large Truck Accidents with Pedestrians and Bicyclists
Given these new research findings for 2017, the risk of dying in a motor vehicle accident as a pedestrian is a dangerous trend and a real threat to pedestrians and those on foot in 2018 and beyond. Let’s be careful out there!
