Pedestrian fatalities are up in the U.S., according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Researchers say their findings also show that fatalities occur disproportionately in socially and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
In its latest study findings, AAA says pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. have risen by over 80% in the past 15 years after reaching a historic low in 2009. Researchers say that almost the entire increase in pedestrian deaths has occurred on urban arterial roads and after dark - busy city roads they say are typically built to quickly move a lot of traffic between metropolitan areas while still allowing access to local streets. AAA says this means pedestrians and vehicles often share congested roads that are not always well-lit or have appropriate sidewalks, crosswalks, or traffic signals.
“The continued rise in pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. since 2010 is a traffic safety challenge we need to address,” said Dr. David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “This study not only identified common underlying factors related to pedestrian deaths but opportunities where stakeholders can collaborate to make improvements in their communities. We need to work together to create safer transportation systems for pedestrians and other road users.”
The AAA Foundation says it collaborated with researchers from the Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety to study this issue further by conducting case studies in three cities with varying levels and trends in pedestrian fatalities. In the cities examined, the researchers say they found that a large majority of pedestrian fatalities occurred on busy city roads at night, which aligned with national trends.
Researchers also say they uncovered that a disproportionate number of these pedestrian deaths occurred in socially and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods - areas in which many residents depend heavily on walking, especially to reach public transportation. The safety group says cities continue to grapple with several challenges when it comes to implementing the necessary infrastructure upgrades needed to make roads safer in these communities. AAA says it urges city planners, public health professionals, legislators, and traffic safety practitioners to work together to reverse these deadly trends.
Researchers say the study also identified some other issues, too, including a lack of safe crossing locations, high pedestrian crossing volumes, poorly lit roads without continuous sidewalks, and questions over road ownership (state versus local) and policy challenges.
For the case studies, the research team examined the cities of Albuquerque, NM, Charlotte, NC, and Memphis, TN, and found:
“Reducing the spike in pedestrian deaths requires data-driven investments where they matter most,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy. “If safety is truly a top priority for decision-makers, we should expect greater investments in historically underinvested communities where a disproportionate number of pedestrians are hit and killed.”
To enhance pedestrian safety and reduce fatalities, AAA suggests several key steps:
AAA is also reminding drivers to do their part as well by following this simple advice:
It's not just up to drivers. While drivers are responsible for yielding to pedestrians, AAA says those traveling on foot should also be vigilant and should use caution by staying on sidewalks and using crosswalks as often as possible. Pedestrian tips include: always obeying traffic signals, looking both ways before crossing the street, and don't text while walking.
Photo Credit: HUANSHENG XU/Shutterstock.com.