Every year in October, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) promote National Pedestrian Safety Month. The purpose of their campaign is to spread awareness about safety issues involving pedestrians, bicyclists and others who use the nation’s public streets, sidewalks and other paths near cars, trucks and other large, motorized vehicles.
During this time, national transportation officials ask everyone at every level, from local and state transportation decision-makers, engineers and planners to retailers, pedestrians, bicycle riders and drivers, to help make these areas more efficient and safer. They spread awareness through advertisements, updated web pages and downloadable guides. In many areas, county, city and town leaders also use October to perform road and walkway construction work or run campaigns to acquire the funds needed to update intersections, sidewalks and any related outdated infrastructure. Read on to learn more…
Is It Really That Bad Out There?
No matter a person’s background, they inevitably walk or roll near major motor vehicle traffic. According to research conducted by the NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), pedestrians and others traveling near motor vehicles lose their lives roughly once every two hours. In 2022, at least one pedestrian on average was injured every 8 minutes and one died every 70 minutes. That same year, the state of California saw more than 11,000 pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
In that same year, approximately 67,336 people categorized as pedestrians suffered injuries, and 7,522 died during traffic incidents. The statistics showed an increase in injuries and deaths from 2021 to 2022. After reviewing national traffic injuries and fatalities of all types, NCSA representatives found that pedestrians accounted for 3% of all related traffic injuries and 18% of all related deaths.
Why Do People Need This Wake-Up Call?
The NCSA found that many incidents involved preventable events. Approximately 16% of pedestrian deaths in 2022 happened in or near street intersections, and approximately 24% involved hit-and-run drivers. A driver’s speed at the time of impact can increase the risk of death. For example, even at 23 miles per hour (mph), a pedestrian’s risk of death on impact goes up by 10%. As the speed increases, the risk goes up. A driver traveling at 58 mph can increase a pedestrian’s risk of dying upon impact by 90%.
Additionally, a whopping 48% of crashes that caused pedestrians to die involved either a drunk driver or pedestrian. Outdoor lighting also affected crash outcomes. Approximately 78% of pedestrian fatalities happened at night, 19% by day, and 4%, evenly divided, at dusk and dawn. Traffic conditions and congestion affected outcomes as well. Only 15% of pedestrian fatalities happened in rural areas versus 85% in urban ones. Age factored into the equation too, with 17% of all children up to age 14 dying as pedestrians in traffic crashes.
How Can the Public Improve Pedestrian Safety?
Drivers and pedestrians working together can protect people in motor vehicle traffic areas. Drivers need to constantly look out for pedestrians. They need to slow down and use extra caution near crosswalks or when driving in difficult lighting, traffic or weather conditions. Drivers also need to always follow the rules of the road. For example, drivers shouldn’t abuse substances like alcohol and drugs. They should yield to pedestrians in specific scenarios and take extra care when backing up or driving in a parking lot.
Pedestrians must also use more caution. They should abide by local rules for walking or rolling in an area. They should show extreme caution in places that have hidden outlets or blind spots, such as alleys, driveways and parking lots. When crossing an intersection or a road that doesn’t have a crosswalk, even if they have the right of way, they should look at traffic conditions both ways and check that drivers see them.
Since many pedestrian accidents happen because of attempts to cross midway between two intersections or while a person chats in a group, eats or uses their phone, they should walk the small extra distance to cross at an intersection and stop everything they’re doing to check traffic conditions. They should also wear lighter clothing, especially during low visibility because of the time of day or weather. At night, they should use a flashlight and reflective items. Lastly, if they must walk on a berm or road, they should always face traffic so they can see potential threats to their safety.
