According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Car accidents involving pedestrians are rising. Pedestrian deaths have reached a new and tragic peak. In 2018 alone, researchers found that approximately 6,283 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents. More than a 3% increase from 2017 and the most deaths in almost thirty years. Based on estimates in the first half of 2019, researchers believe this upward trend will continue. So what's causing all of these deaths? According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pedestrians are almost twice as likely to be killed in a collision than a car occupant.
Some of the most common risk factors include:
- Distracted drivers - Distracted driving has been cited as one of the leading causes of fatal vehicle collisions. If drivers are distracted by a phone or other task, they are significantly more likely to injure or kill a pedestrian.
- Driving over the speed limit - Even vehicles traveling at relatively low speeds can cause the human body devastating injury upon impact. If a driver moves too fast, slamming down on the brakes isn't enough to avoid a fatal collision with a pedestrian.
- Intoxicated driving - Drivers under the influence of alcohol are statistically more likely to be at fault in a severe car accident. Driving under the influence is illegal in all fifty states and puts drivers and pedestrians at risk of a fatal collision.
- Failure to yield or stop pedestrians - Pedestrian traffic laws can be nuanced and difficult to understand. Sometimes, drivers unaware of these laws do not realize when pedestrians have the right-of-way. As a result, drivers can often fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in situations where they should have.
- Inclement weather conditions - A vehicle's tires can lose significant traction on roads with rain, snow, sleet, or ice. These conditions put drivers at a higher risk of skidding, swerving, or spinning out. If a driver loses control of their vehicle, they may be unable to avoid a severe collision with a pedestrian.
- Left turns - According to a United States Department of Transportation study, pedestrians have a higher chance of being hit by a left-turning vehicle than a right-turning vehicle. This heightened risk is due to a “visibility impairment” that a driver experiences while turning left. Because of this impairment, a driver may not even see a pedestrian before it is too late.
- Backing up - Drivers must check their rear and side-view mirrors before backing up anywhere, even in their driveways. Child pedestrians are especially at risk for back-up accidents, as they can be too short for drivers to detect.