Posted on 03/03/2019 9:41:46 AM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Never understood how those devilish trains managed to sneak up on people?
Seems more now than ever that people don't have what used to be called "common sense". They just can't think well enough to consider the various potential hazards when crossing the street, particularly the 'subtle' things.
Lol! Stuntperson maybe?
I think it’s in part due to pedestrian has the right of way laws that encourage careless walking out into traffic expecting that cars will stop. Some years ago here in Atlanta some idiot woman “militant pedestrian” would walk out into traffic while being filmed unfortunately no one actually ran over her.
Common sense has left the planet (observe the rise in the cult of socialism & global warming) if you see a stream of two ton objects moving toward you at 50 mph.do you 1. Wait until they pass to cross the street or 2. March out in front of the expecting the to stop? It used to be number one, but recently it’s number two
Drivers are getting worse, too. It’s like the only way they can look is straight ahead, no peripheral vision or awareness at all...
I couldn’t tell you how many people have walked out in front of me without looking. In parking lots. They just expect everyone to stop for them. I didn’t see a phone in any of their faces. It’s just stupidity.
Somebody needs to create a modern day Strewwelpeter book for kids addressing these situations.
This one is analogous to the story with the kid who wouldn’t stop looking up at the clouds when walking.
Deer still represent my biggest # of potential targets.
County has a Pop. Density 39.7/sq mi for peeps.
Not sure of the density of deers. Likely lower for the county, but the two densities in my ‘hood well favor the deer.
Deer don’t seem to look too often either. And they come in a parade.
I’ll bet legal weed has as much to do with it.
It’s been a while since they’ve blamed SUVs for anything, LOL!
I watched some dumb girl drive past me on the freeway while doing her makeup. She then came within 1 foot of the concrete center divider, yanked her vehicle back to the right as the left wheels came off the ground. A mile later she was back to doing her makeup. Two miles later, she slammed into stopped traffic.
We’re just too stupid to live anymore.
Hope he told driver get your head out of your ass so you can see where the road is.
“They just walk right out in the middle of the street without a care in the world.”
Nowadays, they better hope the driver bearing down on them isn’t focused on a smart phone or GPS device. Can’t rely on drivers to see you before it’s too late anymore, nonchalant jaywalkers.
Took,my 6 yr old grandson to the marina with me last weekend. He took his scooter. We’re walking down the dock back to the boat and blip! In the water he went. He was gawking at something somewhere else and not watching where he was going. I teased him mercilessly. He’s the 3rd grandkid I started taking there after they turned 6. He’s the only one that has taken a dunk. Lol
God help you if you hit a jaywalking pedestrian in the 'hood. You'd better just keep driving. There's plenty of stories of drivers pulled from their vehicles and beaten down by angry mobs.
[[Never understood how those devilish trains managed to sneak up on people?]]
It’s cuz they are so quiet- like ninjas
Ah, for the days of gentle pedestrian deaths.
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