cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/12581895

GHSA previously issued a report finding that 3,434 pedestrians were killed on U.S. roadways in the first half of 2022, based on preliminary data reported by State Highway Safety Offices. A second report analyzing state-reported data for all of 2022 found that roadways continue to be incredibly deadly for pedestrians. There were 2.37 pedestrian deaths per billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in 2022, up yet again and continuing a troubling trend of elevated rates that began in 2020.

The report also includes an analysis of 2021 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System to provide additional context on when, where and how drivers strike and kill people on foot. This analysis uncovered a shocking safety disparity for people walking: Pedestrian deaths rose a troubling 77% between 2010 and 2021, compared to a 25% rise in all other traffic fatalities. The data analysis was conducted by Elizabeth Petraglia, Ph.D., of research firm Westat.

To combat this pedestrian safety crisis, GHSA supports a comprehensive solution based on the Safe System approach outlined in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS). Each of the five elements of this approach – safe road users, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roads and post-crash care – contribute in different but overlapping ways to provide a multi-layered safety net that can protect people on foot as well as other road users. The report includes examples of how states are utilizing Safe System principles to improve pedestrian safety.

  • ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ@lemm.ee
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    10 months ago

    how is it troubeling? a nation that is about to vote trump is troubled by more dead pedestrians? LOL.

    also it is still an exotic death…arent you more likely to be shot in school?

    america is in self-purge mood because of its identity crisis.

  • Flyingpeakock@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    I live in Sweden but my girlfriend is from Seattle so I have visited there a couple of times. There are a few cultural differences that I think play a major part in why pedestrian deaths have gone up in America but not elsewhere.

    As already mentioned in this thread Americans tend to be more relaxed about using their phones when driving. It didn’t seem like a big deal to read a text message or anything.

    Another thing is reflective clothing. Driving at night in Washington I saw nobody wearing anything reflective at all. Here in Sweden outside of city centers at night more often than not pedestrians will wear something reflective to actually be visible.

    Lastly the drunk driving culture was very different. In Sweden people would hesitate to have a drink with lunch if they knew they had to drive later that day. In America we went to a brewery whilst waiting for the ferry.

    • Pipoca@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It’s not just car-centric Euclidean zoning and suburban sprawl.

      The US also builds really dangerous stroads that you don’t really see in most other countries.

      5+ lanes of 55mph traffic next to a sidewalk and tons of driveways for businesses is inherently unsafe.

      It’s also interesting to note that the biggest spike in fatalities was during the pandemic.

      The best explanation I’ve heard is that bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic essentially disappeared with the switch to WFH during the pandemic. Streets artificially looked safer pre-pandemic due to drivers getting stuck in traffic at peak periods. The pandemic just revealed how inherently unsafe American stroads are.

  • ares35@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    just this morning some idiot didn’t want to stop at a crosswalk in a 25mph downtown area…

    the car that stopped going the other direction happened to be a cop car (who incidentally almost got rear-ended by some other idiot not paying attention).

    as i stepped onto the curb on the other side of the road, i saw red and blue flashing behind me and heard them on their PA ordering the driver to pull over and stop at the next corner.

    • WanakaTree@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      I feel like I’ve seen this exact scenario plenty of times except the red and blue flashing lights never come on - the cop just lets it go

      • ares35@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        ya, it was a first for me. cops around here often don’t stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk until after a car runs 'em over.

  • dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 year ago

    If America is anything like Canada, it’s because of the insane uptick in people just darting into traffic to avoid using crosswalks.

    Seriously. Driving in Canada is like playing reverse whack a mole. You have to be on the lookout for jaywalkers darting across busy ass roads constantly.