Drivers struck and killed an estimated 7,485 pedestrians in 2021 — a mean of 20 folks on daily basis — probably the most such deaths in 4 many years, in line with a brand new estimate by the Governors Highway Safety Association.
The new projection is a rise of 12% from the earlier yr, leading to 774 further lives misplaced, together with no less than 71 in Massachusetts.
“This is heartbreaking and unacceptable,” mentioned Jonathan Adkins, GHSA government director. “The pandemic has caused so much death and damage, it’s frustrating to see even more lives needlessly taken due to dangerous driving.”
To present context on pedestrian security developments, the report consists of an evaluation of 2020 knowledge from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The 71 estimated pedestrian fatalities in Massachusetts final yr have been a dramatic improve from the 55 in 2020 – when folks drove much less due to COVID shutdowns – however a decline from the 76 the yr earlier than.
“Massachusetts has not experienced the rate of growth in pedestrian fatalities seen in many other states. But we have not seen the progress in reducing pedestrian deaths and injuries that is needed to create safer streets in our communities,” mentioned Stacey Beuttell, government director of the nonprofit WalkBoston. “The continued growth in vehicle miles traveled combined with increases in the size and weight of vehicles have stymied progress.”
The best technique to reverse pedestrian fatalities, Beuttell mentioned, is to revamp streets to “calm” visitors, with raised pedestrian crossings for instance, and to restrict drivers’ capability to hurry by way of residential neighborhoods and native important streets.
Ultimately, Adkins mentioned, the pedestrian security disaster may be traced to its root causes, together with rushing and different harmful driving behaviors, insufficient infrastructure and roads designed for car pace as an alternative of security.
The GHSA report explains how a “Safe System” method can enhance pedestrian security by making a transportation system that accommodates human errors and retains crash impacts on the human physique at survivable ranges.
It requires infrastructure enhancements, adjustments to highway design, equitable visitors legislation enforcement, schooling and public outreach, and emergency response to scale back visitors crashes, accidents and deaths.
The GHSA report additionally examined not too long ago launched 2020 knowledge from NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System to supply insights into when, the place and the way drivers strike and kill pedestrians.
In 2020, for instance, the share of pedestrian fatalities involving rushing rose to eight.6%, up from 7.2% the yr earlier than. The common threat of demise for pedestrians will increase exponentially the sooner a car is touring, from 10% at 23 mph to 90% at 58 mph.
“States and municipalities need to focus in earnest on investing in practical interventions to curb dangerous driving behavior and create safe spaces for pedestrians to walk, like investing in pedestrian infrastructure and traffic calming solutions,” mentioned Catherine Gleason, program and coverage coordinator of the Cambridge-based LivableStreets Alliance. “Whether walking, rolling, or in a car, people need to be safe from drivers on our streets.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”