The numbers are frightening when it comes to pedestrian safety. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than 8,000 pedestrians lost their lives on our nation’s roads in crashes involving a motor vehicle in 2022. That’s about one death recorded every 64 minutes. Those are the latest statistics, and the figures could be higher as every year goes by.
According to the CDC, pedestrian injuries and fatalities are preventable. All drivers in every state across America can do their part to keep pedestrians safe. Millions of Americans are on foot daily; they can be walking to the grocery store, to school, the bus stop, running errands or walking to work. It is every motorist’s responsibility to drive by the rules of the road.
The Four Main Risk Factors
Traffic safety experts cite four factors that can lead to a vehicle/pedestrian accident. For anyone behind the wheel of a car, your speed, the type of road you’re on, the size of your vehicle and driving while you’re impaired by alcohol can increase your odds of striking a pedestrian.
High vehicle speed can cause such a crash and lead to severe injuries to the pedestrian. Also, most pedestrian fatalities occur on roads with posted speed limits of 45-55 miles per hour. These crashes can also occur on multi-lane roads with adjacent commercial retail space.
An SUV can also contribute to more accidents involving people on foot because of its larger profile design and greater body weight.
In 48% of crashes that resulted in the death of pedestrians in 2022, the statistics show that alcohol was involved for the driver and/or pedestrian. Nearly one out of three drivers (30%) involved in a pedestrian crash had an illegal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of at least 0.08 g/dL or grams per deciliter.
The Most Common Crash Types
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports several common accident scenarios involving motorists and pedestrians. These crashes often occur in the downtown area, where speed is not a factor. For instance, you could be making a turn at an intersection and hit a pedestrian without yielding. In another setting, you could strike a pedestrian who has exited a commercial bus that is stopped at a marked bus stop because you did not come to a complete stop and did not wait until the bus had resumed motion.
Another common crash type involves a pedestrian who does not obey the crosswalk but instead darts out into the middle of an unmarked roadway and is struck by a motorist.
A pedestrian walking (or jogging) on the road in the same direction as traffic cannot see a vehicle approaching them from behind. This often causes accidents.
Also, a driver backing out of a parking lot or driveway, for example, can strike a pedestrian who is crossing their path. This can happen when the driver isn’t looking for traffic or movement behind them.
Nighttime also presents higher risks of pedestrian accidents. With one study showing that 77% of pedestrian accidents occur after dark.
Sensible Safety Tips for Drivers
Hitting a pedestrian can happen in mere seconds. The best advice from traffic safety professionals is to be alert, whether you’re on the highway, downtown, in a busy parking lot or in your neighborhood. Slow down, and don’t fiddle with the radio or GPS or cell phone. Keep your eyes on the road and your surroundings.
Always be on the lookout for pedestrians. You can also minimize driver blind spots by adjusting the outside mirrors along the sides of your vehicle.
Follow the speed limit; use caution in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present.