We talked recently about the upswing in pedestrian injuries and fatalities between 2009 and 2010. With figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in August, it appears that trend continued into 2011 with another 3 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities. What can be done?
According to the Highway Patrol, 117 pedestrians lost their lives in 2012 in our state. Non-motorists like pedestrians and bicyclists are particularly vulnerable to injury and fatal accidents.
In August, as part of the effort to curb pedestrian accidents, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced measures to address pedestrian safety, including:
- Safety grants: The government made safety grants in the amount of $2 million to cities with higher-than-average pedestrian fatalities to support education and law enforcement campaigns aimed at creating safer environments for those traveling on foot.
- Educational safety: By launching a new website, NHTSA and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) hope to provide data and information to individuals and communities across the United States to reduce the rate of pedestrian injury and death.
Noted NHTSA administrator, David Strickland, stated that [t]o help stop the recent increase in deaths and injuries, we need everyone to play a role in pedestrian safety. Working with partners on the federal, state, local and individual level, we hope to turn this concerning trend around.
According to NHTSA, a pedestrian is killed every two hours, and another is injured every eight minutes. Avoid distractions when traveling by foot, and if injured in an accident, talk to experienced legal counsel in Cincinnati.