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| Pedestrian deaths on the rise: Watch Your Step | |
| Mar 20, 2007 | |
| James G. Parker | |
| Family Safety | |
| Pertains to | |
| The number of motor vehicles related deaths in the United States went up in 2005. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters has attributed this, in part, to a high number of deaths in a group that some people may find surprising: pedestrians. The number of pedestrian fatalities rose to 4,881 in 2005 from 4,675 in 2004, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency is investigating to find the reasons for this increase. In addition, 62,000 pedestrians suffered serious injuries in 2005. Federal data shows some dangerous trends in the area of pedestrian safety. For instance, many pedestrians were struck because they failed to cross at designated crosswalks or they crossed against a traffic signal. In 2005, 1,024 pedestrians were killed crossing a roadway or intersection improperly. Most of these incidents involved "jaywalking," or crossing in the middle of the street, That year, 79 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred at nonintersections - a total of 3,854 deaths. However, the number of nonfatal injuries was the same at both intersections and nonintersections. Walking, playing or working in a roadway is another behavior that has led to pedestrian deaths, causing 1,021 such deaths in 2005. Together, these two factors were involved in more than 41 percent of pedestrian fatalities in 2005. Alcohol is another contributing factor in many pedestrian deaths - both on the part of drivers and pedestrian themselves. In 2005, 1,548 of the pedestrians who were struck and killed had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher - the level at which an individual is considered legally intoxicated. Unlike drunk driving, walking under the influence is not a crime. However, the behavior is still dangerous. States take action A number of states have taken steps to reduce the number of pedestrian deaths. In some cased, they are motivated by funding from the federal government’s Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act, a $284 billion law that provides roadway construction to states that enact certain safety measures, including some related to pedestrian safety. One such initiative is the Safe Routes to School program, a national effort in which all 50 states and the District of Colombia participate. The SAFETEA law allocated $612 million for the program, which is designed to improve pedestrian safety on routes children use to walk to school, as well as to build crosswalks, sidewalks and bicycle paths near school. New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, D, in 2006 launched a pedestrian safety program in his state, spending a total of $74 million on the program over 5 years. The initiative emphasizes safety awareness for pedestrians, changing driver behavior and altering roadway conditions between vehicles and pedestrians. The state will embark on a number of intersection and sidewalk safety improvement projects, including measures to reduce traffic congestion, public education, and additional law enforcement of pedestrian and traffic safety laws. The state is updating its driver education curriculum to reflect its new emphasis on pedestrian safety. "Education is a key component to any safety initiative," New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator Sharon Harrington said. "From the first time young men and women sit behind the wheel, they must be aware of all the rules pf the road. With expanded pedestrian safety information and enhanced testing, we will have better informed drivers who are well-prepared to safely operate a motor vehicle. Follow the rules No matter where they live, following simple safety rules can help walkers protect themselves. According to the National Safety Council, pedestrians should always follow the age-old adage of looking both ways before crossing the street. Teach children to look left, and then right, then left again before crossing. Adults should serve as good examples by adhering to the same practice. Parents and children should know never to dart out into traffic. In 2005, more than 11 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred after a pedestrian darted into traffic. Also important: Pedestrians should cross streets only at designated crossings. Entering traffic from the middle of the block or from between parked cars is especially dangerous because motorists may not see pedestrians coming. National Safety Council Fact Sheet on pedestrian safety: www.ncs.org/library/facts/pedstrns.htm |
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