According to the report, the following are the most recent pedestrian statistics:
Pedestrians now account for 15 percent of all traffic deaths.
In Florida, pedestrian fatalities jumped 25 percent, from 2010 to 2015
About 6,000 pedestrian fatalities are estimated to have occurred nationwide in 2016.
In 2016, Florida had more than 100 pedestrian deaths
Most pedestrian fatalities in 2015 were between 6 p.m. and midnight, with 74% occurring after dark.
Driveways & shoulders of roads/travel lanes away from intersections are the biggest hazards for pedestrians.
The Governors Highway Safety Association also states that 2016 could be the first year in more than two decades with 6,000 reported pedestrian deaths. And four states – Florida, California, Texas & New York – accounted for 42 percent of all pedestrian deaths in the first 6 months of 2016
Articles on the subject have pointed to several reasons for the increase in deaths. Gas prices have remained relatively low and economic conditions favorable, which means more drivers have headed out on the roads. The use of cellphones while behind the wheel, and the inattention this forces on the driver, has also contributed to the rise in pedestrian fatalities.
Death or personal injury from a motor vehicle crash in Fort Lauderdale is a great problem, with the number of people coming into the area annually, and while a personal injury litigation attorney will help you wade through the system to ensure you receive the best compensation for your injuries, we’d rather you remain safe to begin with. That means being alert and paying attention.
“This is the second year in a row that we’ve seen unprecedented increases in pedestrian fatalities, which is both sad and alarming,” said Richard Retting, the consultant who wrote the GHSA report, in an article on the subject in The Washington Post.
The Centers for Disease Control, which classifies pedestrians as anyone who travels by foot, wheelchair, stroller, or similar means, are among “the most vulnerable users of the road.”
The site states that within the next 24 hours, on average, 430 people will be treated in an emergency department for traffic-related pedestrian injuries. In the next two hours, on average, one pedestrian will die from injuries in a traffic crash. Fatalities cross demographics – no matter your age or where you live, personal injury from a crash with a motor vehicle in Fort Lauderdale is something that should make you pay attention. Those at highest risk include:
Male pedestrians, who are more likely to die or be injured in a motor vehicle crash than females.
Teen and young adult (ages 15-29 years) pedestrians, who are more likely to be treated in emergency departments for crash-related injuries compared to any other age group.
Children are at greater risk of injury or death from traffic crashes because of their small size, inability to judge distances and speeds, and lack of knowledge and experience with traffic laws. In fact, one in five traffic deaths among children ages 14 and under are pedestrian deaths
The CDC also states that the rate of pedestrian death generally increases with age. Blood alcohol levels also play an important role: The CDC says that in 2013, 34% of all pedestrians killed in traffic crashes had a blood alcohol concentration of greater than or equal to 0.08 grams per deciliter.
How can you keep safe while out walking in Fort Lauderdale? For one, always cross the street at a designated crosswalk or intersection. At night, you can increase your visibility to motorists by carrying a flashlight and wearing retro-reflective clothing. Walk on the sidewalk, or on the shoulder of the road, and always face traffic. And lastly, do we even have to say it? Keep your hands off of your cell phone, which always takes your attention off the road.
Facing the problem head-on, officials in Florida have implemented a Pedestrian and Bicycle Strategic Safety Plan with the vision of providing “a safe transportation system where people of all ages and abilities can walk, bike, utilize transit, and travel by automobile safely and comfortably in a pedestrian and bicycle friendly environment” towards the goal of reducing pedestrian- and bicycle-related crashes, injuries and fatalities.
Two things that pedestrians need to know are how to stay safe on a bicycle and how to pay attention to cars on the road – even when drivers aren’t paying attention to you.
If riding a bicycle is your pastime, Safercar.gov states that the two best protections are a properly fitted helmet and knowledge of traffic safety rules. Out walking? You also need to pay attention, as well as teach your children safety measures. For instance: Pedestrians 10 and younger must be accompanied by an adult or young adult on their way to and from school. They should be shown how to cross the street safely, by stopping at the curb and looking both ways for traffic before crossing.
Safercar.gov also focuses on the number of children who are killed or receive personal injury in a backover accident, in which a car coming out of a driveway or a parking space backs out and over a child walking behind the vehicle. To prevent these incidents, children should be taught to never play in or around cars, and should always be supervised around vehicles. Children should also be taught to move away from a vehicle when a driver gets in it or if the car is started.
Personal safety is not an advantage held by a few people – it is a practice that, if employed daily, will help everyone, adults and children, keep out of harm’s way.
