Pedestrian fatalities up nationwide

By GLYNIS HART
[email protected]
With snow piles on sidewalks, icy roadways and decreased visibility, pedestrians are at increased risk of being hit by vehicles in winter. Overall, pedestrian fatalities in vehicle-pedestrian accidents are on the rise. In one year, New Hampshire has seen a 46 percent increase in such fatalities.  

According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration, pedestrian deaths in the United States grew  27 percent from 2007 to 2016, while at the same time, all other traffic deaths decreased by 14 percent. In 2016 and 2017, nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed by vehicles. 

As cars become safer, pedestrian deaths also account for a larger percentage of traffic fatalities than they used to. In 2007, they were 11 percent of all traffic fatalities, rising to 16 percent in 2016. Pedestrians now account for a larger proportion of traffic fatalities than they have in the past 33 years. 

 

Risk factors

Seventy-five percent of pedestrian fatalities happen at night, so the main risk factor is poor visibility. Pedestrians put themselves at risk crossing traffic lanes away from crosswalks and intersections ( 75 percent of deaths), by drinking (33 percent pedestrians, 13 percent drivers), and if they are physically frail. In Vermont, youths were at particular risk, as 15 percent of pedestrian fatalities were youths under 15. In New Hampshire pedestrians over 70 years of age comprised 32 percent of pedestrian deaths. 

A study by the national Governors Highway Safety Association also mentioned a correlation between legalized marijuana, cell phone use, and increased pedestrian deaths, although the study’s authors backed away from saying one caused the other: “The seven states and DC that legalized recreational use of marijuana between 2012 and 2016 reported a collective 16.4 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities for the first six months of 2017 versus the first six months of 2016, whereas all other states reported a collective 5.8 percent decrease in pedestrian fatalities.” 

 

Increasing safety

In Vermont, after a pedestrian safety assessment in 2015, state government launched a number of efforts to increase pedestrian safety, including better teaching at state police academy on laws governing the interaction of vehicles, supporting bicyclists and pedestrians and helping communities develop local pedestrian safety action plans. The state also makes infrastructure grants to Vermont communities, invests in projects to improve bicycling and walking, and supports a statewide bicyclist and pedestrian advocacy organization.

In New Hampshire, the Traffic Safety Commission, appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Safety, meets to discuss roadway safety with an aim of producing policy recommendations for lawmakers. A citizens’ advocacy group, the Bike Walk Alliance, is pushing for statewide implementation of Complete Streets, which encourages infrastructure changes to make walking and biking safer. 

Seventeen pedestrians and two bicyclists died as a result of vehicle/pedestrian collisions in 2017 in New Hampshire. However, far more people died as a result of no seatbelt: 70. In Vermont, six pedestrians and no bicyclists died, and 35 people who were not wearing seatbelts. (For comparison, Vermont’s population is 623,657, New Hampshire’s is 1,343,000.) 

 

What are your rights? 

In New Hampshire, pedestrians have a right of way in the crosswalks. If the traffic light isn’t working, drivers are still obliged to yield the right of way to a pedestrian in their lane, or close enough to be in danger. When a vehicle stops at a marked or unmarked crosswalk to let a pedestrian cross, another driver in that vehicle’s lane may not pass it.

Pedestrians not in the crosswalks have to yield the right of way to vehicles. Also, if there is a sidewalk, it’s illegal for pedestrians to walk on the side of the road. 

Vermont law for pedestrians is simple: Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks, and if the lights aren’t working, that’s still true. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for a driver to yield. And if a car is stopped to let a pedestrian cross in a crosswalk, another car may not pass.