• In 2021, 13% of all accidents that year resulted from a distracted driver, according to the NHTSA.In the 
  While the pedestrian death toll increased by 27 percent from 2007 to 2023, fatalities from other traffic accidents have decreased by 14 percent. Safety measures inside cars protect drivers and passengers, yet pedestrians face the same risks.

Common Causes of Vehicle Pedestrian Accidents

Following speeding and failure to yield, another cause of increased knock-down accidents is drivers distracted by electronic devices – particularly their phones.

Pedestrians are also at fault for being oblivious to traffic conditions. Most fatalities seventy-five percent occurred in the dark, and 72 percent of the victims were walking in or crossing a road and weren’t in an intersection. Also, using marijuana and alcohol impairs their abilities. Up to 33 percent of pedestrian fatalities involved a pedestrian with a blood alcohol content above the legal driving limit, according to the most recent GHSA report. Seven states that legalized marijuana noted a 16.4 collective percentage increase.

It’s also worth noting that lower gas prices and a stronger economy result in more people and cars on the roads. Thus, a pedestrian dies in a traffic crash every two hours.

Higher Risks for the Elderly in Pedestrian Vehicle Accidents

Thirteen percent of the U.S. population is 65 years or older, and 21% of all pedestrian fatalities fall into that age range. As mobility challenges increase with age, the elderly encounter more risks as they navigate streets that were built to move cars, not to keep pedestrians safe. Due to urban sprawl, arterial roads have been constructed but are often the grounds for speeding.

Improved design can protect pedestrians. For example, raised medians where pedestrians can wait as traffic dissipates and overhead lights enhance the visibility of dark crossings. City planners have taken to placing trees and buildings closer to the streets. Drivers slow down when they are required to pay attention to more variables.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians

• Be Seen Stay Safe: Make yourself visible to drivers
• Wear light or bright-colored clothing or use reflective material.
• When walking at night, carry a flashlight 
• Cross the street in a crosswalk!
• If no crosswalks exist, cross in a well-lit area at night.
• Keep a distance from buses, hedges, parked cars, or other obstacles before crossing so drivers can see you.