pedestrian safety – Traffic School Online

You see people walking just about everywhere these days. While walking can help you stay healthier and physically fit, it can also be extremely dangerous. Tragically, the number of pedestrian traffic deaths increased by 11 percent last year, according to a recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association, making 2016 the largest increase in pedestrian deaths ever. Here are some of the reasons for the rise in pedestrian traffic deaths, along with a few considerations and warnings.

Reasons for Increased Pedestrian Deaths

One reason for the rise in pedestrian deaths is the increase of motorists on the roads. This is largely due to improved economic conditions, along with somewhat lower gas prices.
Drivers and pedestrians using cell phones and texting while driving and walking is a huge factor. Because people talking, texting, and engaging on social media on mobile phones are easily distracted, pedestrian accidents can easily happen.
Another reason that more and more Americans are walking these days is the popularity of activity trackers, which can record the number of steps a user takes in a day.
It’s becoming trendier to walk to work, which increases the number of pedestrians on the streets.
Vehicle speeds are higher, which leads to pedestrians being more at risk of being struck.
Additionally, more people are walking now because they’re concerned about protecting the environment and decreasing the amount of carbon emissions in the atmosphere.

Pedestrian Safety Tips

Only walk-in safe areas. For example, use sidewalks, when possible. When no sidewalk is available, always walk on the side of the road that faces traffic so that you’ll be more visible to drivers.
Don’t walk along roadways or highways where it’s illegal to walk.
When walking near traffic, don’t use your phone or any other type of electronic gadget as they can easily distract you.
Don’t use headphones when walking near traffic. Besides being able to see what’s going on around you, you also need to listen carefully.
Never walk when under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other strong medications.
When you cross the street, use crosswalks. If there’s none available, use the most well-lit area on a road to cross. Only cross when you see an opening wide enough to walk safely across the street.
Be familiar with and follow all traffic regulations, signals, and signs.
Always make good eye contact with drivers.
Don’t assume a driver will grant you the right of way.
When walking in daylight, wear bright colors, but at night wear reflective clothing or clothes that are lightly colored.
Carry a flashlight when you walk at night.
Be sure your presence isn’t hidden by parked cars, hedges, or buses before you cross a street.
Don’t cross a street between parked vehicles as well as at the back or front of larger vehicles or buses.

Considerations and Warnings

Some pedestrians are more at risk than others of being killed in a traffic accident. These populations include older people, ages 65 and older, as well as children. Alcohol-impaired drivers and pedestrians are also more at risk because having too much alcohol in your blood can cause slower reflexes and faulty judgment.
Larger urban centers tend to have more pedestrian deaths.
If you’re a pedestrian you’re 5 times, more likely to be killed in a traffic accident than if you were a passenger in a vehicle.
Some states are more dangerous for pedestrians than others. While New Mexico had the highest number of pedestrian fatalities last year, Minnesota had the lowest number, making it the safest state for pedestrians.

Motorists are just as responsible as walkers are when it comes to safety. However, in some cases, even the safest drivers can get tickets for traffic violations. To learn more about our online traffic school and how our defensive driving course can dismiss traffic citations, besides reducing insurance costs, please contact us.

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As the traffic volume has increased, so has the likelihood of vehicular-related injuries or vehicle collisions. In residential areas, traffic flow peaks during common times of travel – mornings, when families drive to work or school, after-school pickup hours, and the rush hour after most 9-5 facilities close. Sometimes the density of traffic is so great that manual monitoring of speed compliance becomes challenging. In 1983, the first use of speed humps was approved for use in the United States in order to motivate vehicles to drive less than 30 miles per hour in designated areas. Because they act to regulate speed passively, they are sometimes referred to as “sleeping policemen.”

What is a Speed Bump?

A speed bump is a small raised area in a road, typically 3-4 inches in height and 1-3 feet in length. They are designed to compel vehicles to slow their speed to 15-20 miles an hour in order to cross without discomfort to the driver or damage to the vehicle. In residential areas, speed humps are often installed, which are similar in height to speed bumps but quite a bit longer.

Speed Bumps and Crash Rates

Speed bumps have been shown to reduce the frequency of several factors associated with collisions. A study by the Portland Bureau of Transportation found that annual crash frequency decreased by 39% on streets that had been treated with speed bumps. Moreover, the number of injuries sustained in the crashes on treated streets was reduced by 46%, making any crashes that did occur less severe than they may otherwise have been.

Speed Bumps and Pedestrian Safety

One of the greatest benefits of installing speed bumps in residential areas is the increased safety it provides to pedestrians. According to the American Journal of Public Health, children are especially susceptible, with automobile collisions responsible for the greatest number of deaths of American children aged 5-14. It was found that installing a speed bump is associated with a 53%-60% reduction in injury or death in neighborhood children struck by a vehicle. Because the most severe injuries are often related to vehicles exceeding the speed limit, the installation of speed bumps helps to ensure that drivers abide by the posted speeds.

Installation of Speed Bumps

Whether speed bumps can be installed locally is determined by policies that vary statewide. Typically, there are a series of measures that must be met for a street to be approved: a minimum traffic volume, such as 500 vehicles, must pass on the street per day, and the majority of vehicles must be traveling at a certain speed bracket, such at 85% traveling at or below 35 miles per hour. These measures ensure that speed bumps will be installed in relatively high-volume areas that require moderately slow speeds.

If a street in a local neighborhood meets the city’s requirements but does not currently have a speed bump installed, a citizen can contact the local traffic division with a request to review the street. The city must ensure that the street is not on a primary route for emergency responders, such as the Fire Department, and then the request must be signed by a number of other residents. The street is then subjected to data analysis to ensure that the city’s volume and speed measures are met. If the street falls within the required parameters, installation is likely to be approved.

Speed bumps are an effective way to reduce the frequency and severity of collisions, improve pedestrian safety, and passively reduce the number of vehicles exceeding the recommended speed limits. In areas with fairly high traffic and especially in residential settings where children are likely to play, the installation of speed bumps can dramatically improve the safety of pedestrians and motorists alike.

Nationally, the figures on accidents taking place between cyclists and automobiles and pedestrians and automobiles are grim.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 743 cyclists were killed in 2013, the last year for which statistics are available. That constitutes 2% of traffic deaths. A total of 48,000 were injured. The numbers have risen steadily since 2007. (The NHTSA counts all wheeled vehicles powered by pedals, so these figures include bicycles, tricycles, and assistive devices operated by pedaling.)

The figures for pedestrians are even more stark. The NHTSA reports that 4,735 pedestrians were killed in 2013, and 66,000 injured. Every 2 hours through the year, a pedestrian was involved in a fatal collision with a car, and every 8 minutes, a pedestrian was injured.

The conclusion is obvious. While both cyclists and pedestrians need to exercise caution in their interaction with vehicles, vehicle drivers need some tips on sharing the road with cyclists and pedestrians, to increase their safe driving vis-a-vis cyclists and pedestrians.

You and Them: General Tips

First, realize the comparative vulnerability of cyclists and pedestrians.

You are encased in several tons of metal. Cyclists are riding on relatively flimsy vehicles—and they are very open to injury and being thrown from the bike. Even if they’re wearing a helmet, they are still no match for a car. Pedestrians are even more vulnerable because they are highly unlikely to be wearing protective gear.

Second, be vigilant.

Drivers have a tendency not to fully focus on either cyclists or pedestrians. Why? They are focusing on cars, of course. Cyclists may be seen as a kind of background distraction on the side of the road. Pedestrians might be seen as an impediment to fully flowing traffic. Do not fall for this trap. Both cyclists and pedestrians have as much a right to the roads as you do.

Third, exercise defensive driving.

Both cyclists and pedestrians have rules of the road to follow, just as you do, as well. Cyclists, for example, should ride in the same direction as the traffic, not against it, and follow traffic signals. Pedestrians should always wait for a crosswalk or a designated signal to cross.

We all know, though, that these rules are not always followed. If they’re not, don’t insist on your rights of way. Yield for both cyclists and pedestrians as part of defensive driving. You don’t want a collision with a more vulnerable party to occur.

Fourth, don’t drink and drive.

The NHTSA reports that more than a third of fatal collisions between cyclists and car drivers and nearly half of fatal collisions between pedestrians and car drivers involved alcohol.

Cyclists

Once you follow the 4 tips above, there are specific tips on sharing the road with cyclists.

Watch out at right turns. This is particularly commonplace to have a collision; the bicyclist may not notice your turn signal. If they are only slightly behind you, or slightly less than even with you, they may not be able to see it and drive right into you as you start a turn. Defensive driving is particularly important here.
Watch out at left turns. The most common error here is to think you have plenty of time to turn before the bicycle could hit you. They are vehicles capable of moving very fast. It is not uncommon for bicyclists to be going 20 mph or higher. Make sure you have plenty of time to complete the turn.
Leave 3 feet of clearance between you and a bicycle. It makes it safer all the way around. Nearly half of U.S. states have mandated leaving such a space.
Look before you open your door. This is a big site of accidents as well—a driver opening a door directly into the path of a cyclist.

Pedestrians

For pedestrians, be sure that you:

Obey the speed limits
Obey stop signs and traffic signals thoroughly
Look actively for pedestrians as you enter intersections or crosswalk areas, especially at night
Check before entering or exiting driveways
Be especially vigilant at night

Traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility. By following these tips, you are ensuring that you, cyclists, and pedestrians are as safe as possible on the road.

Please contact us for more information.

With so many children and families trick-or-treating after dark on Halloween night, it comes as no surprise that pedestrians under the age of 18 have a greater chance of being killed by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

While it has long been suspected that Halloween is particularly dangerous for young pedestrians, statistics on the subject have only recently become available.

State Farm partnered with researchers at Sperling’s BestPlaces in 2012 to analyze 20 years’ worth of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

child pedestrian fatalities chart

Halloween is ‘Deadliest Day’ Of The Year For Child Pedestrian Fatalities, Sperling’s BestPlaces, 2012.

The study also revealed more information about the types of risks that children face on Halloween night:

Nearly a quarter of fatal child pedestrian crashes occurred between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, the “deadliest hour” of Halloween night. More than 60% of these crashes were concentrated between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM, popular trick-or-treating hours.
Over 70% of the crashes occurred mid-block rather than near an intersection or crosswalk.
Older children between ages 12 and 15 represented the most fatalities, followed by children ages 5 to 8.
Almost a third of the crashes involved a young driver between the ages of 15 and 25.

As you get ready to enjoy your Halloween festivities, make sure to stay alert and drive carefully! Keep the following tips from the National Safety Council and WalkingInfo.org in mind:

Watch for children where you might not normally expect to see a pedestrian – darting out from between parked cars, and walking on roadways, curbs, and medians.
Drive slowly and enter or exit driveways and alleys carefully.
Children are smaller and harder to see than adults.
Children may not be able to see your car over bushes or parked vehicles, and may have difficulty judging speed.
If you have children who will be trick or treating, review pedestrian safety with them every Halloween.

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

This is the second post of a two part series on pedestrian road safety.

Many are blaming the recent increase in pedestrian fatalities on distracted walking. While it’s important to address this newly emerging issue, there are many other risk factors for pedestrians, and there may be better opportunities to improve pedestrian safety.

What Puts Pedestrians at Risk?

Location

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 73% of pedestrian deaths in 2011 occurred in urban areas, up from 59% in 1975.

Pedestrian crashes can also be broken down by where on a street they occur. As reported by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration…

32% of pedestrian crashes occur within 50 feet of an intersection.
26% of pedestrian crashes occur in the middle of a block.
15 to 25% of pedestrian crashes are estimated to take place in parking lots or driveways.

The most common scenario for pedestrian crashes involves a pedestrian crossing in front of a passenger vehicle traveling straight.

Street Design

According to a report by Smart Growth America, the incorporation of pedestrian needs into street design makes a significant difference in pedestrian safety.

Pedestrian crashes in places without sidewalks only represent 7% of total pedestrian crashes, but crashes are more than twice as likely to occur in these locations.
More than 40% of pedestrian fatalities occur where no crosswalk is available.
Over half of pedestrian fatalities occur on arterial roadways, high-capacity roads designed to be wide and fast.

Vehicle Speed

The risk of severe injury and death for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle increases dramatically as the speed of the vehicle increases, as seen in the graphs below.

pedestrian risk chart

Impact Speed and a Pedestrian’s Risk of Severe Injury or Death, AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety, September 2011.

This makes streets where pedestrians are exposed to vehicles traveling at high speeds especially dangerous.

Alcohol Impairment

According to the NHTSA pedestrian safety report, alcohol involvement for either the driver or the pedestrian was reported in 48% of all crashes resulting in pedestrian fatalities. 35% of pedestrians involved in these crashes had a BAC of .08 or higher, while only 13% of drivers did.

Who Has the Greatest Risk?

Children and Teens

Safe Kids Worldwide reports a 53% decline in fatality rates and a 44% decline in injury rates for pedestrians under the age of 19 over the past 15 years.

The IIHS suggests that this trend may be related to an overall decline in walking, particularly among children, during the past several decades. Improvements in traffic engineering may have also helped to reduced injury and fatality rates.

But just like for the general population, child pedestrian fatality and injury rates started to increase again in 2010, and the age group with the highest risk for pedestrian injuries and fatalities has shifted from children ages 5 to 9 to teens ages 16 to 19. Walking while distracted is more common among older teenagers than younger kids, and may be a contributor to this change.

In general, children are overrepresented in crashes involving pedestrians running or walking into the street.

Older Pedestrians

Pedestrians age 65 and older accounted for 19% of all pedestrian fatalities in 2011, and the fatality rate for older pedestrians is higher than for any other age group, according to the NHTSA’s recent report on pedestrian safety.

Older pedestrians were also overrepresented in crashes involving turning vehicles, and in those in which the driver committed a moving violation.

Male Pedestrians

According to the IIHS, male pedestrians are killed more often than female pedestrians across all age groups, but the reasons for this difference are not known. In 2011, 70% of pedestrians killed were male, a proportion that has remained steady since 1975.

Potential Solutions

Further Study

We currently have information on the total numbers of pedestrian fatalities and injuries, but we don’t know much about how many fatalities and injuries occur per pedestrian, per mile walked, or per number of walking trips made. This makes it difficult to compare pedestrian fatality and injury rates over time or between different locations.

We need to gather more information about our walking behavior so that we can identify the real reasons behind the recent increase in pedestrian fatalities.

Complete Streets

Streets in the United States tend to be designed with cars in mind rather than bicyclists or pedestrians. Smart Growth America reports that In Germany and the Netherlands, where “complete streets” are more common, bicyclist and pedestrian death rates per kilometer traveled are two to six times less than in the United States.

“Complete” streets include pedestrian safety countermeasures such as wide sidewalks, raised medians, safe bus stop placement, bike lanes, and raised crosswalks. Many of these additions also serve to calm traffic.

Promoting Walking

While one might think that more pedestrians and bicyclists on the road might mean more crashes, a revolutionary 2003 study revealed that the opposite is true. The increased presence of pedestrians and bicyclists actually seems to make drivers more cautious and more attentive, making the road safer for everyone. This idea, known as “safety in numbers,” places the burden of sharing the road safely on drivers, not just on pedestrians and bicyclists, and suggests that we actually need to encourage more people to walk to make walking safer.

What You Can Do

As a driver, watch carefully for pedestrians and follow speed limits, especially as the days grow shorter and winter weather conditions bring low visibility. Be especially aware on Halloween, the highest risk day of the year for young pedestrians.

As a pedestrian, walk on sidewalks whenever they are available, and if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far away from traffic as possible. Be predictable by obeying signs and signals, and be alert for drivers who may not see you.

Many organizations offer resources to help you start walking and improve pedestrian safety in your area.

Smart Growth America’s National Complete Streets Coalition provides help for communities and agencies at every stage in the process of implementing complete streets.
The National Center for Safe Routes to School offers training and resources to help schools and communities encourage children to safely walk and bicycle to school.
Many states and communities promote biking or walking to school or work on specific days. Local organizations may offer resources to plan your route or even provide aid stations along the way in an effort to attract new bicyclists and pedestrians. Check out the national Walk and Bike to School Day website for more.
The new NHTSA website Everyone is a Pedestrian offers programs and resources for citizens, community advocates, educators, and state or local officials to walk safely and promote safe walking.

◉ Factors Responsible for the Rise in Pedestrian Deaths

Tag: pedestrian safety