October marks the second annual National Pedestrian Safety Month. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and its State Highway Safety Office (SHSO) will be addressing behavioral safety issues that cause pedestrians to be struck and killed by drivers.
Behavioral issues include not buckling up, drunk and drug-impaired driving, distraction, and speeding.
Last year, 6,721 pedestrians were killed on U.S. roads, according to GHSA projections, a 4.8 percent increase from 2019. The trend has continued this year. During the first quarter of 2021, 8,730 people were killed on U.S. roadways, a 10.5 percent increase compared to 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“The spike in pedestrian fatalities in recent years is unacceptable,” GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins said. “Nobody should have to worry about dying while walking. Vehicles are safer than ever for occupants thanks to design changes and new safety features, but the same can’t be said for people on foot. We must do more to address the safety of our most vulnerable road users by stopping the preventable causes of crashes — speeding, impairment and distraction — that needlessly put lives at risk.”
GHSA’s annual pedestrian safety report highlighted strategies to reduce crashes and injuries involving people who walk.