Chicago Tribune
Walking has become more hazardous to your health. Pedestrian deaths nationwide appear to have hit their highest point in almost 30 years, a troubling spike even amid increased attention to safety.
In another disturbing twist, hit-and-run accidents, some of them deadly, are also up nationwide.
More than 6,200 pedestrians died in vehicle-related accidents in the United States in 2018, an increase of 50 percent from the 4,100 killed in 2009, according to projections from the Governors Highway Safety Association. Some factors are relative constants; it’s dark in 75 percent of the fatalities, and alcohol use by either driver or victim is involved about half the time.
So why the jump in this category, even as road deaths overall decline? Among the reasons:
More drivers and pedestrians are distracted by mobile phones. Deaths ticked up as surely as smartphone sales did.
Streets are designed to move cars more efficiently — that is, rapidly — than ever.
More people drive SUVs, which cause greater injury than cars do at the same speed.
So yes, the typical driver is part of the problem. In the Almost-Goes-Without-Saying Department: Drivers never should text behind the wheel, should forsake speeding, shouldn’t drive recklessly. Let’s get these personal habits straight before scooters, legalized recreational marijuana and self-driving cars join the mix.
Cities need to help too. More than one-third of fatalities happen on local streets. Road designs and lighting improvements can better protect pedestrians (although not keep them from texting while ambling).
Walking, which can keep people fit and reduce use of fossil fuels, is worth encouraging. But let’s make it as safe as possible.
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