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posted by martyb on Friday March 01 2019, @05:35PM   Printer-friendly
from the not-so-smart-phone-use dept.

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.

U.S. Pedestrian Road Deaths


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  • (Score: 5, Interesting) by edIII on Friday March 01 2019, @09:16PM (3 children)

    by edIII (791) on Friday March 01 2019, @09:16PM (#808934)

    I don't think it's alcohol. That's been available before 1990, and the entire time since. Why have the pedestrian deaths increased? They said smart phone usage, and that one I believe, because I can fucking see it on a daily basis. I'm a very attentive offensive driver. I never drive defense, always offense as if the others around me are complete fucking idiots at all times. I look at not just the car, but the driver and what they're doing. I've seen women putting on makeup a few times in accordance with the stereo type, but what I've seen increase many times over in the last 20 years, is people looking at their phones while driving and at intersections. I honk several times per week when those dipshits are holding up the left turn lane. These idiots drift in their lanes, slow down to much, or in the worst cases, are still driving fast while trying to divide their attention equally between a phone and the road.

    I'm honestly afraid now of walking. I can see one of these assholes drifting up onto the sidewalk and nailing a pedestrian. Yes, pedestrians suffer from the same smart phone bullshit, so it's a perfect storm of obliviousness on all sides.

    Regardless though, people don't have a right to drive cars, and they do have a right to walk. If you're licensed to drive a vehicle, you are responsible. Pedestrians on smartphones are not an excuse to hit them in a parking lot, and drivers are responsible. You have to demonstrate that a driver didn't have the reaction time to evade the pedestrian that just steps into traffic.

    We need new laws that put people in jails for 2 weeks for each infraction of using a smartphone while driving. The only excuse is mapping software, and hands free voice calls. In both cases, you can cheaply and easily mount it to the dashboard/vents. I believe the 3rd infraction should result in the suspension of your driving license. We don't need new taxes or surveillance either, since if I can see these dipshits doing it, police can see the dipshits doing it. They need to be punished, not fined. That's the only thing I can see that would put a dent in this.

    Previously, I've argued that AI in cars is a bad idea, and that AI would reduce our rights by controlling where we can and cannot go like Minority Report. At this point though, once AI can drive, I think it should be mandated for ALL cars. Humans that want to drive would need even stricter licensing and continual testing, at the same level pilots do. Only professional drivers should be allowed on the road that are willing to take it as seriously as flying.

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  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday March 01 2019, @09:31PM (1 child)

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Friday March 01 2019, @09:31PM (#808941) Journal

    You'll get little argument from me there. I did point out the high rate of intoxication because a sober person texting and driving is a danger - but a drunk texting and driving is many times more dangerous. A sober pedestrian can and does usually get away with focusing on his cell phone, but the drunk pedestrian obviously fares worse than the sober one.

    I agree - when you get behind the wheel, your unfocused attention should be on driving. Don't drink and drive, don't text and drive, don't argue with the wife or kids behind the wheel - just focus on driving.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 02 2019, @10:40AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 02 2019, @10:40AM (#809092)

      I did point out the high rate of intoxication because a sober person texting and driving is a danger - but a drunk texting and driving is many times more dangerous. A sober pedestrian can and does usually get away with focusing on his cell phone, but the drunk pedestrian obviously fares worse than the sober one.

      Here's an idea: make those phones smart enough to detect user drunkenness and stop working while in movement.
      That will at least give the users a reason to pay more attention to the phone and disregard the rest of the world.

  • (Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Saturday March 02 2019, @12:25AM

    by hemocyanin (186) on Saturday March 02 2019, @12:25AM (#809012) Journal

    'm a very attentive offensive driver. I never drive defense, always offense as if the others around me are complete fucking idiots at all times.

    At first I thought it was a typo but from the second sentence, it cracked me up.