Pedestrian danger

A little awareness can reverse troubling trend

The growing number of pedestrian traffic deaths nationwide calls for action. Action by ordinary people.

Saving lives need not be costly or complicated. Individuals can make a difference and turn around the spike in fatalities.

Drivers and pedestrians need to be alert.

That means no drinking and driving, no getting tanked when a person knows they’re going to have to walk home and cross streets from the spot they’ve been imbibing. Drivers shouldn’t be on their cellphones and pedestrians crossing the street shouldn’t have their eyes focused on the latest text message.

The spike in deaths and ways to reduce deaths are analyzed in a study released in February by the Governors Highway Safety Association. Over 10 years through 2018, the number of pedestrian deaths rose 53%. At the same time, the number of all traffic deaths increased only 2%.

The news in Pennsylvania is somewhat better, with pedestrian deaths declining in the first half of 2019. The commonwealth had 74 pedestrian deaths in that time period, a drop from 89 in the first half of 2018.

One death is too many, so the safety proposals in the study remain applicable.

About half of all pedestrian fatalities involved a blood-alcohol level of 0.08% or higher in either a driver or a pedestrian.

The most dangerous time for pedestrians is at night, when deaths were up 67% over the 10-year period. In 2018, 76% of pedestrian deaths happened at night.

The explanations for increased fatalities aren’t surprising.

• Changes in consumer buying habits that favor light trucks and SUVs over cars. Pedestrians who are hit by the heavier vehicles are more likely to suffer fatal injuries.

• The proliferation of cellphone use.

• Warmer temperatures, which encourage walking and are also associated with increased alcohol use.

• Poor lighting on some streets and intersections.

Two other recommendations would require expenditures: Adding more lighting on roads and at intersections, and requiring automatic emergency braking systems on automobiles.

Florida, for instance, has spent $100 million to add lighting at 2,500 intersections heavily used by pedestrians. That’s a relatively small part of the state’s $90 billion budget.

While the government has a role, individuals can act now to help cut the number of pedestrian deaths by taking a few safety steps.