Pedestrian Fatalities in Georgia Rising Rapidly

GEORGIA - Ajc.com writes that pedestrian deaths in Georgia have been rising rapidly. While numbers are up throughout the nation as a whole, these crashes are increasing much faster in Georgia. Pedestrian deaths rose by three percent across the country in the first six months of 2018, but in Georgia, the numbers increased by about one third.*

The reason for the jump is not entirely clear. It is possible that the improving economy in the state, along with a rapid increase in population size, is contributing to the high death toll by making the roads busier. When there are more people on the street, there is a greater risk of a crash. 

According to a spokesperson for the Georgia Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the numbers are highlighting a serious problem. The country needs to take steps to better protect vulnerable road users and turn the trend in the opposite direction. 

Numerous factors are contributing to the increase in fatal crashes, including many things that traffic safety officials may not be able to control. For instance, population growth, economic conditions, fuel costs, more vehicle miles traveled, weather, and more people out walking may be driving up the numbers. Smartphones, which are often the cause of distractions for drivers, are another factor believed to be impacting the number of pedestrian deaths. SUVs have become one of the main suspects as well, as these larger passenger vehicles cause more injuries to pedestrians than smaller vehicles would. 

Road design, including the spread of suburban areas, creates dangers for people walking because the speed limits are frequently higher than in urban locations. 

Efforts to lower the number of pedestrian crashes will require education. Enforcement, better-designed roads, and improvements in emergency responses to crashes. 

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Sources:

https://www.ajc.com/news/transportation/georgia-sees-spike-pedestrian-deaths/N04AVxC0e7jDbkVbEW8RKL/