The alarming number of accidents and deaths caused by reckless driving since the start of the pandemic has had another grim side effect. 7,485 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in 2021. That averages out to 20 deaths per day and is the highest amount in 40 years. Even before the pandemic lockdowns, the number of pedestrian deaths in accidents had been steadily climbing in recent years.
Clearly, any accident between a pedestrian and a car is going to seriously injure the pedestrian. And if the victim is a child or a senior citizen, the chances of being killed are higher. “Pedestrian accidents are some of the most serious and tragic types of personal injury cases we handle,” said attorney J.J. Dominguez of The Dominguez Firm. “Usually, the victim is left with catastrophic and permanent injuries. Our wrongful death attorneys have also represented many families who have lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident. It’s encouraging to see cities take steps to enhance pedestrian safety, but much still needs to be done to stem these senseless deaths.”
Before discussing ways to reverse this disturbing trend, it’s important to first look at what’s causing it.
Distracted driving – The advent of the smartphone is one contributor to the uptick in pedestrian injuries and deaths in traffic accidents. Both drivers and pedestrians are guilty of looking at their cellphones instead of the road when traveling.
A sharp increase in reckless driving – As mentioned previously, the empty roads drivers navigated during the pandemic caused many to speed, ignore traffic signs, and otherwise drive recklessly. Post-pandemic, many have continued to drive in the same manner, with disastrous consequences for pedestrians.
Larger vehicles on the road – The popularity of SUVs makes them a common sight on our roads. Given their larger profile and weight, they pose an even greater risk to pedestrians if there’s an accident. Also, the higher location of the rear-view mirrors on most SUVs can leave pedestrians with catastrophic brain injuries in a crash.
Roads designed for cars, not people – Many roads throughout the country have poorly marked crosswalks, traffic lights spaced far apart, high-speed limits, and poor lighting, if any at night. In some suburban and rural areas, pedestrians have no sidewalks, putting them in great danger from passing vehicles.
The Biden administration recently presented its National Roadway Safety Strategy(NRSS). The aim is to provide a long-term plan to gradually reduce road injuries and deaths for everyone, with a vision towards zero fatalities. Studies show that communities of color and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to being the victims of pedestrian accidents. In both cases, they tend to get around without the use of a vehicle. This can be particularly burdensome in areas where a car is essential to travel even short distances.
Among the suggested safety measures recommended by the NRSS are:
- Crosswalks with in-ground lights and bright street lights on either side to enhance visibility
- Clear signage that informs a driver of an upcoming pedestrian crosswalk. They can be placed 30 to 50 feet before the crosswalk.
- Pedestrian islands. These are especially useful for the elderly and those with disabilities when crossing a wide street.
- Separate bicycle lanes. These can help avoid not only car-bicyclist collisions but crashes between bicyclists and pedestrians too.
- More pedestrian bridges over arterial roads, which are roads that usually feed traffic to and from nearby freeways or major urban centers.
- In rural areas, elevated boundaries on either side of a lane, called rumble strips, are meant to stop deadly head-on collisions. If a driver begins to drift out of their lane, they’ll be alerted by the loud sound and vibration caused by the rumble strips.
All these infrastructure changes can help reduce pedestrian and other traffic deaths on our roads. Coupled with increased vehicle safety features and driver awareness, a drop in traffic accidents can’t come soon enough.
