U.S. Pedestrian deaths worst in 28 years

FoxNews.com ^ | Mar 3, 2019 | AP, via FoxNews.com

[ETL]

The number of pedestrians killed on U.S. roads last year was the highest in 28 years, an increase due in part to driver and walker distraction, alcohol and drug impairment and more SUVs on the road, a safety organization report says.

Using data reported by states for the first half of 2018, the Governors Highway Safety Association estimates that 6,227 pedestrians were killed last year.

That's up 4 percent from 2017 and 35 percent — or more than 1,500 additional deaths — from 2008.

The association says more people are walking to work and they're more distracted by smartphones.

America's massive switch from cars to SUVs and light trucks caused more deaths because the taller SUVs tend to hit pedestrians in the head and upper torso, causing more severe injuries, the report said. ..."

The number of pedestrian deaths involving SUVs rose 50 percent from 2013 to 2017, while passenger-car-related deaths increased by 30 percent, the study found.

The number of walkers killed by passenger cars was still higher in 2017 at 2,279, but SUVs accounted for 1,097 deaths.

Pedestrian deaths had been declining for decades until 2009, when smartphone sales and data use began to spike, Retting said.

While Retting said the correlation between the two needs to be studied more, phone use is one of the only variables that could cause the increase in deaths.

"Cellphone use is one of the few metrics I can find that shows a consistent change, a large scale change, year after year," Retting said.

In about half the fatal crashes, either the driver or the pedestrian was impaired by alcohol, with blood alcohol levels of 0.08 grams per deciliter, the study found.

[ETL]

"Pedestrian deaths had been declining for decades until 2009, when smartphone sales and data use began to spike"

I don't think this ought to surprise anyone...

[Paladin2]

Hardly any pedestrian looks before crossing the street.

Modern Kindergartens’ fault.

[donozark]

Recently saw a young girl walking down RR tracks with a cell phone glued to her ear. Great...

[SMGFan]

many adults are crossing the street not at the curb and they hold child’s hand.

[ConservaTexan]

SUVs are tractor beaming pedestrians!

[Grampa Dave]

Cell phones combined with booze, drugs and stupidity are helping Darwin thin the excess human herds.

[boomop1]

Probably a increase in the weed states.

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[Paladin2]

At least he wsn’t crossing the street.

[Drew68]

Growing up white in the 'burbs I always thought "jaywalking" was crossing at the crosswalk without a crossing light after carefully assessing that there is no traffic.

And then I saw jaywalking in the 'hood.

They take it to a whole new level. They just walk right out in the middle of the street without a care in the world.

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[bgill]

Throw in that stupid #MyFeelingsChallenge or whatever it’s called wanting people to dance in the middle of the street and jump onto cars. We had some bozo dancing in the street here this week.

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[Sans-Culotte]

In the hood, they dare you to hit them.

[dragnet2]

It's generally because these stupido people walk right into traffic like they're bullet proof. Those who've seen what happens to others when they go under the wheels don't do that.☺

[Covenantor]

....In about half the fatal crashes, either the driver or the pedestrian was impaired by alcohol, with blood alcohol levels of 0.08 grams per deciliter, the study found....

wonder where the breakdown of ethnicity is hidden...coinciding perhaps with increase in Illegal Alien population, hmmmm?