The other day I crossed a busy Bellevue Way NE, in Bellevue,
at a crowded mid-block crosswalk with many other pedestrians. Before I started
to cross, a car came whizzing by, missing one or two early crossing
pedestrians. As I crossed the middle, I said to the COP in the middle
supervising the crosswalk, "Some people just drive too fast." He
replied, "That's why there is someone at the end of the block who will
have a discussion with that driver!"
This incident demonstrates that it can be dangerous to be a
pedestrian. NPR’s Freakonomics Radio podcast recently aired an episode that showed
how dangerous it can be to walk on sidewalks in the USA. It noted that in 2014,
just under 5,000 pedestrians died in the U.S. while last year, about 7,500
pedestrians died. And it noted that the death rate for pedestrians is much
higher in the U.S. than in Europe, Canada, and Japan.
In 2021, nationwide, a pedestrian was killed every 71
minutes in a traffic crash!
Four factors contribute to any traffic death, including pedestrian
deaths:
·
Speeding
·
Alcohol and intoxication
·
Fatigue
·
Distraction
Speed is always deadly. The faster a vehicle goes, the more
likely it will cause catastrophic results. And distraction, has become an
increasing concern for traffic safety professionals since the advent of the
smartphone.
In finding ways to reduce, if not eliminate, these factors,
the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Washington Transportation Safety
Commission (WTSC) have adopted a “Safe System Approach.” It includes,
·
Safer People
·
Safer Vehicles
·
Safer Speeds
·
Safer Roads
·
Post-crash Care
The approach attempts to be comprehensive, to include the
operators, vehicles, and the environment that people drive their vehicles. It
recognizes that concentration on only one element cannot succeed without improvement
also in the other elements. While educating people to drive safer can help, that
can only go so far. You can have the safest vehicles, but if people drive them recklessly
or you have dangerous roads, you can still kill people. And if all elements
fail, you want to have the best in first responder capabilities to save lives
in case of a vehicle crash.
So, what can you do to prevent yourself from becoming a
casualty?
·
Be Visible. Try to make eye contact with
drivers when crossing the street. At dusk and at night, wear light
colored/reflective clothing. Walk in well-lit areas.
·
Stay Alert. Be aware of your
surroundings. Put away your smartphone. Don’t wear headphones.
·
Follow the Rules. Observe and obey all
traffic rules, traffic signs, and signals.
·
Walk in Safe Places. Stay on sidewalks
whenever possible. Cross the street at a crosswalk or lighted intersection
whenever possible.
·
Avoid Alcohol. 34% of crashes involving
pedestrians included pedestrians who had been drinking.
And drivers can help pedestrians to walk to their
destinations safely by,
·
Looking out for pedestrians.
·
Following the speed limit, especially in areas
with heavy pedestrian traffic, school zones and neighborhoods.
·
In bad weather and at dusk/darkness, turning on
your lights and using your turn signals so that pedestrians can see you.
·
Crosswalks– Always yielding to pedestrians at
crosswalks. Slow down when approaching a crosswalk. Do not pass vehicles
stopped at a crosswalk.
·
Not drinking and driving. Almost half of all
traffic crashes causing pedestrian casualties involve alcohol consumption.
Crossing in that crosswalk the other day showed how
dangerous it can be to cross a street. Hopefully, one of the COP’s buddies had
a nice discussion with that driver on speeding and looking out for pedestrians.
NPR Freakonomics Radio (This 45-minute podcast shows some
interesting insight into the problems of pedestrian safety):
https://freakonomics.com/podcast/why-is-the-u-s-so-good-at-killing-pedestrians/
Washington Traffic Safety Commission:
http://wtsc.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2022/11/WTSC_TZAP_FINAL_Nov-2022.pdf
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety
