October is Pedestrian Safety Month. A press release from the president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety noted, “More than 6,000 pedestrians are being killed every year. Taking a walk should not be a death-defying experience. Proven solutions must be implemented to protect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.”
The press release cited federal statistics that said 6,205 pedestrians died in collisions in 2019, and an estimated 76,000 pedestrians also were injured. That’s a fatality every 85 minutes and an injury every seven.
The number of pedestrian deaths is rising — up 50% between 2009 and 2019. Again citing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the press release added, “Dangerous driving behaviors such as impaired, distracted and drowsy driving and speeding pose serious risks to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. This is particularly true at night, when the large majority (76%) of pedestrian fatalities occur.”
The press release encouraged the passage of “evidence-based” traffic safety laws, better vehicle safety technology and upgrades to roadway safety.
Recommendations in a 2018 National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report included setting standards for driver assistance systems like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings and blind-spot warnings. The NTSB also called for an update to headlight standards to improve visibility and safety, and improvements to vehicle hoods and bumpers with the goal of protecting pedestrians.
The press release concludes by saying the number of deaths and injuries are intolerable. Which they are. But a couple of readers noted that many pedestrians are willing to put themselves in harm’s way.
“I see more pedestrians being careless and taking more risk today than in the past,” one wrote in response to last week’s editorial. “Some pedestrians are not wearing light-colored or reflective clothing after dark. They’re walking in the driving lanes and not off the road or beyond the white line. Some are even daring drivers to swerve out of their lane to miss them as they ignore walking on the sidewalk that is intended for pedestrians.
“They are putting themselves in danger. Common sense and consideration of others works both ways, for the driver and the pedestrian.”
These are good points. Every driver, whether in a large city, small town or rural area, has seen pedestrians walking in an area where they shouldn’t. It’s a good bet many are distracted by a cellphone or earbuds as cars and trucks pass by.
The law gives pedestrians the benefit of the doubt and holds drivers responsible for many collisions. But that’s no comfort to any pedestrian who’s killed or injured. Traffic safety literally is a two-way street — both drivers and pedestrians need to be more careful.
