FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 14, 2007
Contact Person: Crissy Rowland
(270) 781-8039 ext. 120
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
Pedestrian safety affects nearly all of us. According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were over 4,800 pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. in 2005; which was an increase from 2004. The Department’s Federal Highway Administration is working with state and local governments to improve pedestrian safety by providing more than $600 million through 2008 to help states develop pedestrian safety programs
Tina Whitlow, Project Director of the Barren River District Health Department’s Safe Communities Project, states that “During the years 2000 and 2005, 67 Barren County residents sought treatment at area hospital Emergency Departments as a result of pedestrian-related injuries from motor vehicle and non-motor vehicle accidents.”
Children are at increased risk for pedestrian injuries for several reasons. Nearly one in five fatalities in the 14 and under age group were pedestrian-related and over half of these were males. Their smaller size makes them more difficult for drivers to see, especially if they are standing between parked cars on the side of the road. Children are often unable to judge distances and vehicle speeds accurately and can misjudge whether it is safe to cross the street. Parents often over-estimate their child’s ability to safely cross the street. Many elementary school-aged children don’t understand traffic signals and don’t know how to anticipate driver’s actions.
Alcohol is a major factor in pedestrian deaths. In 2005 there were 48 pedestrian or pedal cyclists in the 14 and younger age group killed in traffic crashes due to drinking drivers (BAC .01 g/dL or higher).
The most recent data available on pedestrian fatalities (2003) shows that the death rate for seniors was higher than any other group. The seriousness of this issue is increased by the fact that older persons are the fastest growing segment of the population. Starting at age 70, the death rate for seniors involved in a traffic fatality is nearly twice as high as it is for people younger than 70.
Motorists need to be aware that excessive speed increases stopping distances. Drive more slowly in areas where pedestrians are likely to be present. Also, if a driver sees a child close to the road, assume that the child will enter the roadway; slow down or stop. Children tend to assume that the driver will stop for them.
Pedestrians can also take certain actions that will lessen their chances of being injured while walking. NHTSA gives the following safety tips for walkers:
- Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, always walk in the road FACING traffic
- Dress to be seen. Wear brightly colored clothing during the day and reflective material on your shoes, cap or jacket at night
- Be observant of unusual driving behavior
- Tips for crossing the street include:
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Cross only at corners or marked
crosswalks
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Stop at the curb or edge of the road
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Stop and look left, right, then left again before stepping into the
street
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Make eye contact with drivers prior to crossing in front of them
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Don’t assume because you see the driver, the driver sees you
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Walk…don’t run
Concerning children, Vicki Poore, Chairperson of the Barren County SAFE KIDS Coalition, offers the following prevention tips:
- Never allow children under age 10 to cross the street alone. Adult supervision is important until traffic skills and sound judgment are reached by children
- Prohibit playing in driveways, streets, parking lots and unfenced yards adjacent to streets
For more information, you may contact Ms. Poore at the Barren County Health Department, 270-651-8321, ext 136.
Parents should be encouraged to supervise their children and to teach them age-appropriate pedestrian safety rules. For more information, log onto www.cdc.gov, www.nhtsa.gov or www.safekids.org.
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PROMOTE • PROTECT • PREVENT
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