2018: The Deadliest Year For Pedestrians

2018 became the year for the most pedestrian casualties in almost three decades. The stats come from the Governors Highway Association, which found that the number of pedestrians fatalities has grown steadily since 2009.

The report links reasons for the surge in pedestrian deaths (up 35%) to a rise of unsafe drivers. Poor driving habits include speeding, drunkenness, traveling drowsy and distracted driving, which is largely due to smartphone usage. A greater quantity of SUV vehicles on the road further added to the amount of victims succumbing to injuries. There has also been a growing trend among those opting to walk more, boosting the number of potential casualties. Many of these crashes take place at night when urbanites cross on local roads away from intersections, which accounts for over 90% of the rise in crashes.

Is the increase of folks traveling on foot to blame for incidents? Richard Retting, director of safety and research at Sam Schwartz Consulting and an author of the report doesn’t think so.

“Crossing the street should not be a death sentence,” he said in a statement. “We have a range of proven infrastructure, engineering, and behavioral strategies we know can reduce pedestrian deaths.”

With Florida cities ranking as the deadliest for walking—among them Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, St Petersburg and Miami—it’s vital to learn to share the road.

If you have been injured in a Florida pedestrian accident, know that our Florida pedestrian accident attorneys at Rubenstein Law are here for you. We know how to protect your legal rights and your right to compensation. We will be there for you when times are tough. For a free consultation, please contact us at 1-800 FL-LEGAL.