Each year in October, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Highway Administration sponsor Pedestrian Safety Month. The observation coincides with the Halloween holiday with its stream of trick-or-treaters to raise awareness of the dangers pedestrians face on our streets.
Free resources produced by the DOT emphasizing pedestrian safety are distributed to local communities, states, and other members of the public. The effort is in response to data showing that just in the year 2022, 7,522 pedestrians died in traffic fatalities in the United States.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated, “We all can and must do more to make sure people feel safe when they are walking, whether it’s to work, to school, or a transit stop.” Pedestrians walking in low-income areas, Black and Indigenous people, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable.
The Statistics
The statistics are disturbing. In 2022, a pedestrian lost their life in a traffic crash every 70 minutes and 1,201 of those deaths occurred in the state of California. Rates of pedestrian deaths are highest at night and in urban areas. Speed, drunk driving and distracted driving are often contributing factors.
The elements of a safe pedestrian system focus on safe people, safe speeds, safe roads, safe vehicles, and safe vehicles. People are encouraged to practice safety and responsibility on our roads. Safer speeds are promoted by outreach campaigns, the setting of safe speed limits, road design, and law enforcement. Safety in vehicles focuses on new technologies designed to prevent accidents and designs that lessen the effects of crashes on both pedestrians and drivers. Lastly, access to emergency care is emphasized through accelerated access to emergency medical care.
NHTSA offers a variety of resources. Including tips for drivers and pedestrians, so they can work together to prevent tragedies. Because children and the elderly are at higher risk of pedestrian accidents, there are also guides for parents to help keep their children safe when walking and for older adults.
Awareness is Key
By creating awareness for all road users, these organizations hope to prevent further tragedies. Prevention must include reducing speeds, driver distractions and drunk driving incidents, as well as creating street designs and vehicle technologies that can keep vulnerable road users safe.
