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.
(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.