A crosswalk doesn’t guarantee pedestrian safety
The existence of crosswalks doesn’t guarantee pedestrian’s safety on the road, especially when a pedestrian chooses to jaywalk, fails to use designated crosswalks, or does not abide by the provided traffic signals. That’s why it’s equally important that crosswalks exist, but also that pedestrians are mindful of crosswalk safety precautions.
Crosswalk Statistics
In 2006, a report done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that 42 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred on roads that did not have proper crosswalks. Additionally, another 21 percent occurred in roadways where the pedestrians weren’t using the provided crosswalk. Pedestrian deaths occurring on an actual crosswalk accounted for less than 9 percent of all fatalities, perhaps because the pedestrians failed to look both ways, or they walked before the signals indicated it was safe for them to do so.
Additional Crosswalk Statistics
Other crosswalk safety statistics include:
More than 500 pedestrians were killed while using a provided crosswalk in 2006.
There were more than 4,700 pedestrian deaths on U.S. roads in 2006.
Texas has the most dangerous roads for pedestrians. In 2009, 344 pedestrians died on Texas state roads - more than any other U.S. state.
Most at risk are pedestrians who are younger than 16 and those older than 45.
Between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. is the most dangerous time to be in the road for a pedestrian. It’s even more hazardous during those times during the weekend.
Utilizing available crosswalks and practicing safety in crosswalks can greatly reduce a pedestrian’s risk of being involved in an accident.
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