UNITED STATES – The number of pedestrian deaths due to traffic accidents in the United States is reaching a 30-year high, according to an online news report from nytimes.com. A study from the Governor’s Highway Safety Association indicated that pedestrian road deaths in 2018 were higher than any year since 1990.
The Governor’s Highway Safety Association and The New York Times report that 6,227 pedestrians are estimated to have been killed in 2018 due to traffic collisions in the United States. This is the highest number of pedestrian traffic fatalities since 1990 and represents a major increase from 10 years earlier, when about 4,100 pedestrians died in traffic accidents.
The information from the Governor’s Highway Safety Association indicates that alcohol, speeding, and cell phone use contributed to many of these fatalities. The report also stated that a higher number of SUVs on the road might be contributing to the increase in pedestrian deaths.
“I’ve been in this business for 36 years, and I’ve never seen a pattern like this,” said Richard Rettig, author of the report. Rettig has worked for the New York City Department of Transportation and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, among other agencies.
“We can’t say in any definitive way that the amount of wireless data and the amount of smartphone use is an exact cause, but the relationship in uncanny, and it’s not unrelated,” Rettig said. “The fact is that many, many smartphones are used while people are driving cars.”
This also includes cell phone use by pedestrians, who might walk into the road looking at their phones instead of traffic. More distractions and heavier cars on the road lead to more collisions and more deadly collisions.
Put Our Law Firm’s Over 39 Years Of Legal Experience To Work For Your Case!
If you have been injured in any type of accident caused by someone else’s negligence, call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law for your free consultation today. Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law has been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout the Southeast for over 39 years, including but not limited to all smaller cities and rural areas.
No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED® (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour live chat.
Source:https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/07/us/pedestrian-deaths.html