Key Takeaways
- Pedestrian deaths in the U.S. have reached their highest rate since 1981, with Southern states identified as hotspots for fatalities due to a variety of contributing factors
- Reckless driving behaviors, alcohol consumption and urban planning issues are underlying causes behind the spike
- Technology, legal recourse and advocacy can help reduce pedestrian fatalities by providing technical solutions, seeking justice and effecting change in policies
- Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, most Georgia personal-injury claims must be filed within two years; comparative-fault rules under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33 reduce recovery by the plaintiff's share of fault.
- According to the State Bar of Georgia, an attorney consultation before signing any insurance release is the standard protective step for any claim involving injury, missed work, or lasting symptoms.
Imagine walking through your neighborhood, only to find that crossing the street has become a life-threatening endeavor. That has become the reality for many pedestrians across the United States, where the annual death toll has risen roughly 77% since 2010 — while deaths among every other class of road user rose by a fraction of that. Below we look at what is driving the trend, and at what actually reduces it.
The Alarming Rise in Pedestrian Fatalities
Walking down the street should not impose danger, yet the number of pedestrian traffic fatalities in 2022 has escalated to its highest since 1981, recording 7,508 fatalities. Pedestrian deaths happened primarily due to being struck by motorized vehicles while walking along or across U.S. roadways, according to data from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). Passenger cars are involved in the majority of accidents, resulting in most pedestrian deaths.
The most hazardous areas for pedestrians are:
Roads with heavy vehicular traffic in close proximity to bustling commercial and service hubs with substantial foot traffic
Areas with poor lighting or visibility
Crosswalks without proper signage or signals
Intersections with high-speed turning vehicles
Construction zones or areas with obstructed sidewalks
Roughly three-quarters of pedestrian deaths happen after dark, and night-time pedestrian deaths have grown far faster than daytime ones. The GHSA’s own conclusion is that the two most effective levers are the ones that address speed and driver behaviour on major arterial roads — the wide, fast, multi-lane streets that carry heavy traffic through areas people walk in.
The Epicenter of the Crisis: State Data Reveals Hotspots
Sun Belt states carry the highest rate of pedestrian deaths, with New Mexico, Arizona and Florida consistently among the most dangerous for people on foot. Georgia sits well above the national average as well, and metro Atlanta’s arterial roads account for a disproportionate share of the state’s pedestrian fatalities. In comparing pedestrian fatalities across different states, one should take into account factors like the density of drivers on the road, pedestrian safety measures in place, and driver demographics, as they can affect risky and dangerous driving behaviors.
Federal regulators have set higher performance standards for automatic emergency braking and pedestrian-detection systems on new light vehicles, which over time should reduce the number of people struck while walking. Fleet turnover is slow, though, so the benefit arrives over a decade rather than a season. Research shows that pedestrians are twice as likely to suffer fatal injuries in a collision when a car is traveling at 30 mph compared to 20 mph, especially on non-freeway arterial roads.
The Underlying Factors: What’s Behind the Spike?
A variety of factors contribute to the surge in pedestrian deaths, such as reckless driving behaviors, alcohol consumption, and issues related to urban planning. The GHSA report demonstrates that the rise in pedestrian fatalities is linked to a sharp rise in hazardous driving behaviors, contributing to the overall increase in traffic deaths. Alcohol consumption is also a major contributor to pedestrian fatalities.
Issues in urban planning, such as insufficient sidewalks and increased vehicle speed, have in recent years been pinpointed as factors contributing to the escalating pedestrian fatalities. To combat these issues and accommodate more pedestrians, better designed infrastructure is needed to ensure the safety of pedestrians and drivers alike.
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Addressing the Issue: How to Prevent Deaths on Our Streets
Preventing deaths on our streets, including arterial roadways, requires a multi-faceted approach. Local lawmakers can implement the following measures:
Traffic calming measures such as sharp corners, pedestrian islands, and large sidewalk bulb-outs
Speeding and red light cameras
Adding bike lanes to foster a safer environment for everyone using the roads
Walkability elements that can make a location safer for pedestrians include:
Limiting vehicular access
Emphasizing sidewalks
Providing adequate lighting
Implementing streetscapes designed to facilitate safe walking
Pushing for policy and infrastructure that put people on foot first is how communities end up somewhere walking is both safe and pleasant.
The Safe Streets Initiative is a Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) grant program designed to promote safety on roads and streets by preventing fatalities and serious injuries. This initiative, along with the support of state highway safety offices, can help address the pedestrian safety crisis and prevent unnecessary tragedies.
Technology and Traffic Safety: A Technical Solution?
Progress in vehicle safety features and smart city infrastructure may serve as a solution to improve traffic safety. Recent developments include:
Forward collision warnings
Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
Lane-keeping assist
Adaptive cruise control
Blind-spot monitoring
Predictive maintenance aided by machine learning algorithms
Collision detection and automatic emergency braking can reduce pedestrian deaths by shortening reaction time, scrubbing off speed before impact, and warning a driver who has not seen what is in front of them. Smart city infrastructure can facilitate traffic safety and reduce pedestrian fatalities by providing real-time information to vehicles, optimizing traffic flow, and supplying data for targeted interventions.
Multiple studies assessing the efficacy of technological solutions in minimizing pedestrian accidents have provided vital insights about the potential benefits such advancements could bring for pedestrian safety. As technology continues to evolve, we may see a significant reduction in pedestrian fatalities.
The Human Cost: Stories Beyond the Statistics
The human cost of pedestrian deaths is immense and goes beyond mere statistics, with individual narratives underscoring the urgency for action and change. Pedestrian death can have a profound impact on a family, resulting in intense grief, psychological distress, and economic hardship. The effect on communities is far-reaching, with safety concerns, emotional distress, reduced community solidarity, and economic ramifications on daily lives.
Behind each figure is a household absorbing medical bills, lost income and a permanently changed life — and pedestrians hit by a vehicle are often still dealing with the consequences years afterwards. These stories emphasize the importance of addressing the issue of pedestrian safety and pushing for policy changes to prevent future tragedies.
Legal Recourse and Advocacy: Seeking Justice and Change
Legal recourse and advocacy are instrumental in seeking justice for victims of pedestrian accidents and advocating for policy changes to avert future tragedies. Pedestrian accident victims have the legal right to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance and may be entitled to compensation for their losses. In Georgia, the rules of the road matter to that claim: drivers must stop and stay stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk on their half of the roadway under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-91, and pedestrians crossing outside a crosswalk must yield under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-92. Crossing mid-block does not end a claim — under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33 an injured pedestrian can still recover so long as they are less than 50% at fault, with damages reduced by their share. Working with a Georgia pedestrian accident attorney can help victims navigate the complex claims process and secure the compensation they deserve. Pursuing justice through the legal system may involve:
Negotiations with insurance companies
Conducting investigations
Collecting evidence
Securing legal representation in court
Advocacy groups have taken numerous measures to reduce pedestrian fatalities, such as advocating for the expansion of sidewalks, bike lanes, and bus lanes, and promoting Complete Streets policies, Vision Zero initiatives, and the safe system approach. These campaigns have been highly effective in altering traffic laws and retaining road safety as a paramount concern, facilitating beneficial social transformation.
Summary
The alarming rise in pedestrian deaths is a pressing issue that demands immediate attention. Through a combination of policy changes, infrastructure improvements, technological advancements, and legal action, we can work towards creating safer streets for all. By understanding the underlying factors and working together, we can make a significant impact on reducing pedestrian fatalities and ensuring that our communities are safe for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percent of traffic fatalities are pedestrians?
Pedestrians account for roughly one in six traffic deaths in the United States — a share that has climbed steadily since 2010, when it was closer to one in eight. Pedestrians and cyclists together make up close to a fifth of all road deaths.
How many pedestrians are killed each year in the US?
Recent years have run between 7,000 and 7,500 pedestrian deaths annually — around twenty people a day, and the highest totals recorded since the early 1980s.
Who is at fault if a pedestrian is hit outside a crosswalk?
Not automatically the pedestrian. Georgia drivers owe a duty of due care to everyone on the roadway under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-93, regardless of where someone is crossing. Fault is apportioned under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, and an injured pedestrian who is less than 50% responsible still recovers — reduced by their own share.
What if the driver who hit me had no insurance, or drove off?
The uninsured-motorist coverage on your own auto policy can pay, even though you were on foot rather than in your car. Georgia requires every policy to offer UM coverage under O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11, and it applies to hit-and-run and uninsured drivers alike.
How long do I have to file a pedestrian-accident claim in Georgia?
Two years from the date of the crash under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. If a city, county or state agency shares responsibility — for a dangerous crossing or a defective signal, say — ante litem notice is due far sooner, within six months for a municipality under O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5.
