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The number of pedestrians hit and killed on U.S. roads has surged to the highest level [PDF] in almost three decades, new data indicates, while suggesting that a rise in SUVs and smartphone use may be to blame.
Last year, 6,227 pedestrians were killed in road fatalities — a 51 percent increase compared to 2009, according to a preliminary estimate published Thursday by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). The D.C.-based non-profit said the 2018 figure is the highest recorded since 1990.
Five states—Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia and Texas—accounted for 46 percent of all pedestrian deaths, despite representing just 33 percent of the U.S. population, according to Census data. California had the largest number, at 432.
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U.S. Pedestrian Road Deaths Reach Highest Toll Since 1990, Report Says
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I'm mentally OVERDRAWN! What's that SIGNPOST up ahead? Where's ROD
STERLING when you really need him?
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 01 2019, @07:18PM (5 children)
If little Billy had actually looked both ways before he crossed, and had he noticed the oncoming SUV and not stepped out in front of it, he never would have been hit.
There seems to be a large subset of pedestrians who disconnect their entire "self-preservation" reflex in their brains when it comes to crosswalks and they simply barrel forward, without looking (with or without cell phones as a distraction) under the assumption that because they have the right of way, the cars will stop. The part that does not work here is when they fail to notice the car that is 100 feet away that needs 150 feet to stop for them, and step out in front of it anyway, resulting in getting hit.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 01 2019, @07:45PM (3 children)
Or, maybe the drivers should get off of their cell phones and slow down to a reasonable speed when they see a crosswalk or intersection ahead.
There seems to be a subset of drivers who think it is okay to drive while interacting with cellphones and who think that anything other than a car on the road is not worth their attention.
(Score: 0, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 01 2019, @08:48PM
Just because someone is an idiot, does not mean everyone in that group are idiots.
I've said this before, there should be no right of way to pedestrians. Why, because even if pedestrians were right and had a moral/ethical/whatever right to do it, when they get hit by a car, atleast 2 lives get destroyed.
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Saturday March 02 2019, @12:19AM (1 child)
No. We should ban vehicles. Think of the children.
(Score: 2) by DeVilla on Monday March 04 2019, @05:37PM
Oh. I thought this was working towards banning walking.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by urza9814 on Friday March 01 2019, @08:09PM
Not necessarily. A few weeks back I was walking down the street, past the local park. As I approached the park entrance (not an intersection, no traffic lights or anything, like any driveway/parking lot), I looked back to ensure no cars were turning in. Seeing only one big SUV, not too far back and without a turn signal active, I figured it was safe to cross. As I was about halfway across, that SUV came barreling past, not more than six inches in front of my face, and didn't even slow down. Went flying by so fast I could barely read the big POLICE logo along the side...