Pedestrian accident numbers continue to mount high fatalities

Walking is great exercise and good for the heart. Ironically, those who do go out and walk are facing another danger by becoming victims of pedestrian accidents. In New York and nationwide, pedestrian deaths surged by about 10 percent last year, according to an accumulation of state fatality data identifying instances of a fatal pedestrian accident.

According to experts, several factors converged to bring this about. A better economy, lower gas prices and more drivers on the road for longer durations were partly to blame for higher pedestrian fatalities last year. Added to that is the estimated growth in use of cellphones distracting both drivers and walkers.

The recent early advent of spring weather has also contributed to a surge in walkers. The results portend a dreary forecast of continued increasing accidents, according to the researchers, who are members of a transportation consulting firm. The group registered 2,368 pedestrians fatalities for the first six months of 2015, which was estimated to end up at a 10 percent increase from 2014.

In New York City, the union that represents bus drivers gave some estimates about pedestrian accident occurrences. The union estimated that roughly one pedestrian is killed every 10 days by a city bus. This is reportedly because of blind spots in poorly designed buses. The union said that pedestrian death numbers from preventable accidents would continue to grow until the bus industry demands a change in bus design.

Pedestrian accidents and pedestrian fatalities in New York may be reduced if certain changes are made. Bus design changes could be a crucial factor. These and various traffic and sign safety measures could help substantially. For victims of these accidents, compensation is available to those who were innocently struck down by negligent drivers. The law provides personal injury and death damages to the pedestrian accident victims or their families in any case where the driver was totally or, in some instances only partially, at fault.

Source: kron4.com, “Video: Early data suggests pedestrian deaths surged in 2015”, Mar. 8, 2016