Billions of people around the world rely on their cars to commute to the office, enjoy their family life and hobbies, and keep up with their busy schedules. But, as the volume of vehicles cruising the streets of the world’s metropoles continues to surge, pedestrians are finding it all the more difficult to stay safe. 

Below are the key figures showing the level of risk pedestrians are exposed to every day, and a few essential tips to keep yourself and other road users safe while traveling through big cities. 

In Numbers: Pedestrian Accidents in Big Cities

According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, the number of pedestrian deaths in the US has been growing alongside the number of vehicles on the roads since the late 1980s. But not all cities have the same standards of safety, and not all pedestrians are equally protected from the risk of getting involved in a car accident. 

The facts and statistics below show the landscape at a glance:

• According to estimations by Statista, 117 people were killed in Los Angeles in 2018, 112 in New York, and 110 in Dallas. While the pedestrian death toll in San Diego reached 44. 
• Studies by the GHSA show that pedestrians accounted for 17% of all traffic deaths in 2020, which represented a 4% increase compared to the levels reported in 2010. 
• Over 7000 pedestrians were killed on US roads in 2020, and more than 104,000 ER visits involving pedestrians were reported in the same year. 
• Nearly half of road accidents resulting in a pedestrian death involved alcohol consumption by the driver or the pedestrian. Higher speed limits are also considered to be a major risk factor. 
• According to statistics by the  CDC, 20% of all pedestrian deaths in 2020 involved a person aged 65 or older, and 20.4% of people younger than 15 who were victims of road crashes were pedestrians.
• The safest cities for pedestrians in the US include Fargo, ND, Clovis, CA, and Pearland, TX, all of which had an average annual pedestrian fatality rate of 0.20 per 100,000 residents in 2021, according to MoneyGeek. 
• Fort Lauderdale, FL, Little Rock, AR, and Jackson, MS topped the list of the deadliest US cities for pedestrians in 2021. 
• Helsinki and Oslo are two of the few cities that have been able to cut their pedestrian death tolls to zero in 2019. 

4 Tips To Keep Yourself and Others Safe While On The Road

Although the increase in pedestrian deaths recorded in the past years seems to be a natural consequence of the rise in the number of vehicles cruising the world’s largest cities, reducing the number of road fatalities is possible. Here are a few tips to keep yourself and others safe as road users. 

Become a More Responsible Driver

As car accidents are happening more and more, it is important for drivers to understand how to avoid them. From not driving impaired to learning defensive driving maneuvers and avoiding risky situations, a lot is in the hands of drivers. 

Help Drivers Keep Your Safe 

Although drivers might play a role in other road users’ safety, as a pedestrian, it is your responsibility to do all you can to keep yourself and others safe in big cities. Some best practices include wearing high-visibility clothes in poorly lit areas, crossing the road responsibly, avoiding alcohol consumption, and respecting local road regulations. 

Know That Pedestrian Accidents Are One Type of Personal Injury Claim – And a Lawyer Can Help!

Although you might be doing your best to keep yourself and other pedestrians safe while on the road, unfortunately, accidents do happen. If you are involved in a road crash, it is important to know that pedestrian accidents are one of the common types of personal injury claims, and working with a lawyer can help you protect your rights and obtain the compensation you deserve. 

Help Your City Become a Safer Place for Pedestrians

Although there are systems and laws in place to protect you from harm, as a pedestrian, you share responsibility for the safety of other road users. That is why it is essential to follow the rules, walk on sidewalks, make sure you are visible to others, and ensure that you have good visibility of the road before crossing. 

Have an idea to boost pedestrians’ safety? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with your city’s government or mayor and assist in the implementation of a new road safety program!

Published by HOLR Magazine.