Vehicles are getting safer for drivers and passengers, but in the United States, we’ve seen a startling trend since 2009: pedestrian deaths have been steadily climbing. Our pedestrian accident attorneys have seen the results of this all too often. In this article, we’ll cover some of the latest research and reporting on the roots of the problem. Remember, if you are injured in an accident while walking or cycling, Buttafuoco & Associates may be able to help. Call 1-800-NOW-HURT for a free consultation.
5 Compounding Factors in Pedestrian Deaths
The reasons for the increase in pedestrian deaths remains somewhat mysterious, but journalists at the New York Times investigating this issue have found a variety of interlocking factors, including:
1. Larger Vehicles
Vehicles in the U.S. have long been larger than in other countries, and this trend has only become starker. There are more SUVs and other large passenger vehicles on the road than ever before, and these vehicles pose unique dangers to pedestrians. Larger vehicles have larger profiles, which limits visibility, and due to their increased mass they do not stop as quickly, typically hitting pedestrians with greater force.
2. Smartphones and Digital Vehicle Displays
The most obvious threat to driver safety we’ve seen since 2009 is the sheer number of smartphones and digital vehicle displays. These have led to a huge increase in distracted driving, putting pedestrians at risk.Interestingly, other high-income countries, such as in Europe, have similar levels of smartphone usage but don’t show this increase in pedestrian deaths.
3. Pervasiveness in Automatic Transmissions
Another related factor affecting pedestrian safety is the pervasiveness of automatic transmission vehicles in the U.S. Manual transmission vehicles only make up 1% of U.S. vehicles, while in Europe, they account for roughly 75%. The difference is that manual transmissions require two hands to drive, while automatic transmission frees up a hand for phone usage, leading to more distracted driving.
It’s important to note that not every cause of pedestrian accidents is due to what’s happening inside the car. Much of this has to do with demographic and geographic changes in the United States that place pedestrians in danger.
4. Move to the Sun Belt
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, cities and towns in places like North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Florida have had the strongest population growth in recent years. This is notable because most of these cities were largely developed in the 20th century after the pervasiveness of the car. This means the roadways and communities were not designed with pedestrian safety in mind, putting those outside of cars at disproportionate risk.
5. Rise in suburban poverty
As city centers became more expensive in the 21st century, many low-income households moved to city outskirts and suburbs, where there is less pedestrian infrastructure. Many individuals who cannot afford cars are then walking on high-speed roadways without sidewalks just to get to work or the grocery store.
The Vulnerable Shouldering the Burden
What our pedestrian accident lawyers find perhaps the most concerning is that the poorest among us are suffering the consequences most. While fatality data collected by the federal government doesn’t record victims’ income or other demographic data, these accidents disproportionately occur in lower income neighborhoods, meaning that the most vulnerable are shouldering the burden of these tragedies.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of this troubling trend of vehicles striking pedestrians, it’s essential to get a seasoned pedestrian accident lawyer in your corner.
Get in touch with Buttafuoco & Associates by calling 1-800-NOW-HURT today.
