Recent Statistics On Pedestrian Accidents Reveal Safety Concerns

When a vehicle collides with an unprotected pedestrian, the crash can result in serious injuries or fatalities. Usually, pedestrians are more likely than the driver to lose their life or get hurt following a motor vehicle accident. These types of collisions are typically due to driver negligence.

Florida is one of the most dangerous states in the entire nation for pedestrians, but all across the United States, cities and communities have experienced an increase in the number of pedestrian accidents over the last several years. It is important for all pedestrians and drivers to understand the real danger and the reasons behind this unfortunate rise in order to prevent future injuries and deaths.

Understand the severity and frequency of the pedestrian problem

In 2019, the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reported that nearly 6,590 pedestrian deaths occurred in the United States in 2019. That is the highest number recorded since 1988 and a 5% increase from deaths reported in 2018.

In 2019, pedestrians represented 17% of all traffic-related deaths (in 2009, they only represented 12%). The number of all other traffic-related deaths, meanwhile, has only increased by 2% over the last decade; pedestrian accidents are happening at a higher rate than any other type of crash.

The number of pedestrians who were struck and killed by large SUVs increased 81% in the last decade, while the number of pedestrians who were struck and killed by passenger cars increased by 53%.

The same study from the GHSA showed that five states, including Florida, accounted for 47% of all pedestrian deaths.

Going back a little farther, between 2008 and 2017, a report from Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition found that the annual death rate for pedestrians increased by 35.7%; more than 13 people were killed per day and 49,340 Americans died in that period. The report suggested that if that many people died each year in plane crashes, air traffic would be stopped and investigated until safe travel could be assured (the crisis is comparable).

Any observer has to be careful to not simply dismiss these startling statistics as mere numbers, however. These are real people who died. They had dreams, plans, and familes and friends who loved them. Those people are now are grieving their loss and potentially struggling with the loss of income or benefits their loved one provided.

Richard Retting, author of the GHSA report, remarked that “following 30 years of declining pedestrian fatalities, there has been a complete reversal of progress. Pedestrians are at an inherent disadvantage in collisions, and we must continue to take a broad approach to pedestrian safety.”

Understand the factors contributing to the increase

So why exactly is this “complete reversal” happening? Why are pedestrians being struck and killed by vehicles at such alarming rates?

There are many reasons for the increase, all of which are contributing some and some of which are disproportionately contributing most to the rise in pedestrian accident fatalities and injuries.

One of those reasons is smartphone-related distraction. This includes texting and driving but also making calls, updating navigation, checking social media, responding to emails, and more. While many states consider texting and driving to be a primary offense, not all states enforce this law as harshly as they do other traffic violations (in Florida, texting and driving was only recently made a primary offense in January 2020). The number of smartphones in use has increased by 400% from 2009 to 2018, which is significant.

When a driver traveling at 55mph takes their eyes off the road for just 5 seconds, their car travels the length of a football field, according to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They are essentially driving that distance with their eyes off the road, which can have disastrous consequences if there is a pedestrian crossing within that distance.

Another reason for the increase in pedestrian accidents is a misplaced reliance on technology. Many vehicles sold today now come with automatic emergency braking systems (AEB), object detection sensors, blind spot warnings, and adaptive lighting. However, the technology still has a long way to go in terms of effectively preventing pedestrian accidents, and drivers should practice caution on the road even if their car is equipped with many safety features.

AAA recently tested 4 2019 model cars – a Chevrolet Malibu, a Honda Accord, a Toyota Camry, and the Tesla Model 3 – with crash dummies. Their testing revealed that if one pedestrian crossed the road in daylight and the car was traveling at 20mph, an accident was averted 40% of the time. If two pedestrians were crossing the road and the car was traveling at 20mph, an accident was averted only 20% of the time. If a child walked into traffic between two vehicles traveling at 20mph, an accident was averted only 11% of the time. If a child walked into traffic between two vehicles travling at 30mph, an accident was never averted. And the technology was completely ineffective for pedestrian crossing scenarios that occurred at night. It was unable to detect the dummies when it was dark outside, which is a problem because 75% of pedestrian deaths occur after dark (per data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). The testing showed that the technology is far from reliable, so drivers should never count on their car’s safety features to prevent an accident and instead should practice safe driving techniques and pedestrian awareness.

Speeding and reckless driving is a third major factor in car accidents that involved pedestrians. If a driver is traveling at only 17mph, and hits a pedestrian, they have a 10% chance of suffering a serious injury; at 48mph, their risk increases to 90% (according to results from that same AAA test). In the Tampa Bay Area, Lillia Raubenolt and her one-year-old daughter were killed in May 2018 while crossing Bayshore Boulevard by two racing teenagers who were traveling upwards of 100mph. There are many other similar and tragic stories across the country about speeding drivers who killed pedestrians because of their reckless actions.

Drunk driving, poor lighting, and an increase of larger vehicles on the road are other contributing factors to the increase of pedestrian accidents in the U.S.

Injured or lost a loved one in a pedestrian crash?

A pedestrian accident can have serious consequences for the family of the injured/deceased victim. Medical bills and funeral expenses can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, so if an accident was not your fault, you shouldn’t have to suffer without maximum compensation! Call our experienced Florida pedestrian accident attorneys today for a free case evaluation. We can help you understand your legal rights and options, and we will fight hard for you and your family to get justice. You don’t pay us anything unless we win your case!