Pedestrian Tragically Killed on Interstate 85 in Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, NC- Wbtv.com writes that a pedestrian died in a crash on Interstate 85 in Charlotte. The accident took place in the early hours of the morning and led to the roadway being temporarily closed.*

North Carolina roadways are dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. With over 3,000 pedestrians and 850 cyclists beings struck by vehicles every year, the state ranks as one of the most hazardous for people walking or cycling. Every year, around 160 pedestrian fatalities are reported along with about 20 deadly accidents involving cyclists being struck by vehicles. In total, 15 percent of all traffic fatalities in the state involve pedestrians and cyclists. 

Vehicles do not have to be speeding for a pedestrian fatality to occur. People struck by cars traveling just 40 miles per hour have an 85 percent chance of losing their lives. Most of these accidents take place at intersections. 

Pedestrian crashes are statistically more likely to occur at night. Visibility is a major factor in these accidents. Pedestrians are often difficult to see in the dark, and headlights prove to be inadequate when it comes to seeing people walking on dark roads. 

There are many ways that vehicle manufacturers are now working to improve safety for pedestrians and not just vehicle occupants. One of the simplest technological improvements is better headlights, which would illuminate more of the area in front of a vehicle and allow for drivers to see a wider area. 

Many vehicles also now come with pedestrian detecting technology. These sorts of systems can alert a driver of dangers in their pathway and might be able to curb the increasing number of fatal pedestrian crashes occurring around the United States. 

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Source:https://www.wbtv.com/2019/10/04/deadly-pedestrian-crash-shuts-down-i-nb-northwest-charlotte/