New research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals an alarming trend in pedestrian deaths in the United States: They increased by over 80% in the past 15 years.
According to the research findings, the entire increase in pedestrian deaths involves crashes that occur after dark on urban arterial roads.
Common characteristics of urban arterial roads:
- Lots of traffic: These roads can handle more cars and buses than smaller neighborhood streets.
- Fewer stops: They typically have traffic lights at intersections instead of stop signs, which limits the options for crossing safely as a pedestrian.
- Multiple lanes: They usually have more than one lane in each direction.
- Access to key areas: They connect to areas like highways, downtown, shopping centers, and other important spots.
More findings from the study:
- Most pedestrian deaths occurred outside of downtown: More than half happened more than 4 miles from the city center.
- Pedestrian crashes resulting in injuries and fatalities disproportionately occurred in socially and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods: These are neighborhoods with older housing and greater diversity of land use.
To enhance pedestrian safety and reduce deaths AAA suggests:
- Follow the data: Let the data be your guide - invest in the areas and solutions that will make the biggest impact.
- Coordinate for impact: State and local governments can work more closely to invest resources to save lives.
- Demand a safer system: A safe system approach anticipates human mistakes and reduces crash severity by addressing safety through safer road, cars, speeds and road users.
Drivers can do their part by:
- Minimizing risky driving behaviors: These behaviors include but are not limited to speeding, texting, driving while drowsy or distracted or driving under the influence.
- Not relying on pedestrian detection systems to prevent a crash. This technology should serve as a backup.
- Driving with extra caution at night: This is the riskiest time for pedestrians and when vehicle safety systems struggle the most.
Pedestrians should:
- Be visible: Wear brightly colored or reflective clothing and stay in well lit areas.
- Use sidewalks and crosswalks as often as possible: If there’s no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
- Always obey traffic signals: Look both ways before crossing the street and don’t walk and text.