Pedestrian safety is important, because you don’t want to feel at risk every time you walk near a roadway or through a parking lot. There are thousands of deaths caused by pedestrian accidents each year, so it’s up to you to stay safe and to make sure you report any accidents that take place where you’re hurt or lose a loved one to a dangerous driver.
In 2012, it was reported that 4,743 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents around the United States. While that doesn’t seem like many people, that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the number of people affected by pedestrian accidents. Another 76,000 pedestrians were injured in the same year.
With an average of one pedestrian crash-related death taking place every two hours and an injury taking place once every seven minutes, it’s very important to start finding ways to reduce these injuries and fatalities.
The people most at risk of being injured are those age 65 or older. Why? The elderly move more slowly in many cases, and it’s possible that they are more likely to be walking than other age groups. Another group that is at risk includes children. Over one in five children between the ages of 5 and 15 killed in traffic accidents were pedestrians.
How can you prevent accidents? Make sure your children are accompanied or know the rules of the road. Be sure any elderly family members have assistance when needed. Not much can be done to prevent dangerous drivers, but reporting them and taking precautions can save lives.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Pedestrian Safety,” accessed Aug. 25, 2015
