The projection has been made by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and published in the report called Spotlight on Safety: Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State. The study, the first state-by-state look at pedestrian fatalities for 2010, shows that seven more people were killed on the roads in the first six months of 2010 than in 2009, bringing the number of pedestrian casualties on US roads to 1,891.
The author of the study, James Hedlund, former NHTSA associate administrator, points out that if the numbers for the second half of the year are also up, this would mean 2010 is the first year of increase or no progress after four years of decline.
"Nationally, pedestrian fatalities account for about 12 percent of overall traffic deaths, a small but significant portion. Given that we have made so much progress in this area, GHSA is concerned to see this reversal. One factor may be the increased distractions for both pedestrians and drivers,” said GHSA chairman Vernon F. Betkey.
“Anyone who travels in a busy city has seen countless pedestrians engrossed in conversation or listening to music while crossing a busy street. Just as drivers need to focus on driving safely, pedestrians need to focus on walking safely – without distractions."
Statistically, the most dangerous states for pedestrians are Arizona (up 21), Florida (up 36), Oklahoma (up 16) Oregon (up 18), and North Carolina (up 17).
The entire study and the measures proposed to change the numbers can be viewed by following this link.
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