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Science & Technology
Pedestrian Deaths Rise Dramatically; Up 46 Percent
2018-05-20
[PJ] I live in an area that has a lot of pedestrians and automobile traffic. And it never ceases to amaze me the number of pedestrians who step out into the crosswalk without checking to see if the vehicles are, indeed, stopping. As I tell my children, just 'cause you have the right of way doesn't mean that you're going to be any less dead after the car hits you. A new study highlights the problem as it reveals that pedestrian deaths have risen dramatically over the last few years.
But I continue to read that walking is healthy for you ?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety writes,

Pedestrian deaths have jumped 46 percent since reaching their lowest point in 2009, as pedestrian crashes have become both deadlier and more frequent. The increase has been mostly in urban or suburban areas, at nonintersections, on arterials ‐ busy roads designed mainly to funnel vehicle traffic toward freeways ‐ and in the dark, a new IIHS study shows. Crashes were increasingly likely to involve SUVs and high-horsepower vehicles.
Posted by:Besoeker

#9  Downtown San Diego instituted a Quiet Zone for the rail along the waterfront. The trains don't have to blow whistles among the high-rise condos at every crossing. The efforts to protect the unaware and stupid were $$$
Posted by: Frank G   2018-05-20 16:25  

#8  

Seen in West palm Beach FL where the new high speed from Miami is killing 1/week.
Posted by: Skidmark   2018-05-20 16:12  

#7  "Smart" phones

Brain Cuffs.

Non-intersectional. Watched some cholo wannabe run across four lanes of busy traffic in flip-flops and baggy pants. This seems to be increasing.

Drivers and their Brain Cuffs as well; was driving back from place, saw a tractor run across the highway without even hesitating - was close enough to see the driver was playing phone in his lap; didn't even notice.

I was told a story about downtown rail in Houston which was so quiet - its selling point - that it was striking a pedestrian something like one a day and before cell phones. Was told they had to put some noise makers on the trains and really emphasize crosswalks.

But I'm the guy who looks both ways twice before crossing a one-way street. Has saved me a couple times; recently looking over my shoulder to see a vehicle left-turn right into where I was. Almost had to Jackie Chan my way out of it; if driver saw me, he sure didn't care.

I guess what I'm getting at is a general decrease of awareness across the board.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2018-05-20 14:43  

#6  I can think of at least one "non-intersection crossing" that is far safer than the intersection itself. Northbound traffic generally takes the left turn at full speed without much attention to the contents of the crosswalk. At the "non-intersection" half a block away, I can see the cars coming with seconds to spare.

I figure Newton is more trustworthy than drivers.
Posted by: james   2018-05-20 14:40  

#5  Crashes were increasingly likely to involve SUVs and high-horsepower vehicles.

Because those careless, evil bastiges in their big-ass cars. Or maybe it's because there are more SUVs in the vehicle mix nowadays because gas is cheaper than in the Jimmy Carter era (ptuie) and SUVs are what people want to drive.
Posted by: SteveS   2018-05-20 10:36  

#4  When I was a teenager, I was crossing the street, with the light in a crosswalk when a car ran a red light. I jumped out of the way.

A cop was standing on the corner (I was visiting Washington, DC and there were cops everywhere). I looked at him and all he said was that if that car had hit me he could write the driver a ticket.

Message received. I need to watch out for my own rear.
Posted by: Shanter Shuffler1267   2018-05-20 09:20  

#3  Cars are making less noise, too, if not absolutely silent. We rely on our ears to alert us to what we aren’t bothering to watch out for.
Posted by: Grunter    2018-05-20 09:06  

#2  at nonintersections

aka jaywalking aka roadkill

Caution! Darwin at Work
Posted by: P2kontheroad   2018-05-20 07:06  

#1  "Smart" phones
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2018-05-20 05:58  

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