SAFETY STEPS

Pedestrian traffic deaths in U.S. level off but still ‘unacceptably high,’ study says

Pedestrian deaths across the country leveled off in 2017, but they remain “unacceptably high” and continue to be an increasing percentage of all traffic deaths, according to a study released Wednesday by the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Based on projections for the first six months of the year, 5,983 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents last year, four fewer than the year before. That follows a twoyear period in which pedestrian deaths increased by 22 percent.

“I think we were hoping 2016 was a blip and it wouldn’t be as high for 2017,” said Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the association. “Unfortunately, now we have the third year in a row with an unacceptably high level of pedestrian deaths, so I think we have a trend.”

The numbers continue a troubling trend over a 10-year period. From 2007 to 2016, pedestrian deaths increased by 27 percent to a 25-year high while all other traffic deaths decreased by 14 percent and pedestrian deaths increased as a percentage of overall traffic deaths from 11 percent in 2007 to 16 percent for 2016.

Mr. Adkins attributed the high number of pedestrian deaths to a number of factors, including alcohol, distracted driving and legalization of marijuana in some states.

Overall, about 33 percent of the pedestrians who were killed had a blood-alcohol content above the legal limit of 0.08 percent and were killed walking after dark.

“It’s really a recipe for disaster whether we’re walking or driving while intoxicated,” Mr. Adkins said. “Someone who is impaired

doesn’t make good judgments and thinks they can make it across the street safely when they can’t.”

If people who have been drinking have to walk home, Mr. Adkins encouraged them to have someone walk with them to make sure they get home safely.

The 38-page study also found increases in pedestrian deaths in Washington, D.C., and the seven states with legalized marijuana — Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington — compared with other states. For the first six months of 2017, those areas had a 16.4 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities while all other jurisdictions had a 5.4 percent decrease.

The change in marijuana laws hasn’t been going on long enough to say whether that is a trend, Mr. Adkins said, but it should be monitored to see if it continues.

The study said the best methods for reducing pedestrian deaths involve the three Es — education, engineering (brighter crosswalks, bumpouts to reduce the crossing distance) and enforcement of speed laws. New York City has seen a substantial reduction in pedestrian deaths through a program called Zero Vision that reduced speed limits in the business and entertainment districts.

Overall, Pennsylvania’s pedestrian deaths in the first six months of last year dropped from 79 to 63, ranking 14th in the country.

It was one of 20 states that had a reduction.