Articles Posted in Pedestrian Accidents

Unfortunately, many pedestrian accidents that leave pedestrians seriously injured, killed, facing brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other life-threatening ailments, are hit and run accidents. While some motorists stop to assist pedestrians who have been injured in a collision, many motorists who accidentally or intentionally hit a pedestrian leave the scene of the crime.

USA Today has reported that fatalities in hit and run accidents have increased 20% since 2000. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 974 pedestrians were killed in hit and run accidents in 2005 alone. According to the AAA Foundation for pedestrians account for 60% of those killed in hit and run accidents. Between 1994 and 2003, 14,914 people were killed in hit and run accidents. Obviously, the statistics are sobering.

There are many ways a pedestrian can avoid collisions with motorists:

Statistics show that children are at greatest risk of becoming involved in pedestrian accidents involving a motor vehicle. Boys between five and nine years of age are especially vulnerable. Pedestrian accidents are the leading cause of injuries to minors and children, and most of these accidents take place close to children’s homes.

There are number of reasons why Florida pedestrian accidents involving children are so common. One of the leading reasons is because children do not always have a great sense of danger and cannot always appreciate the danger of running out into the street. Many children also have difficulty determining how fast a car is coming, and therefore have a hard time estimating when it is safe to cross a road or street. Some children, especially younger children, may run into the street without checking to see whether cars are coming, out of impulse.

Children who are old enough to cross the street alone should be taught a number of safety rules. The safety rules include:

Children, teachers, and communities will be taking part in International Walk to School Month, which is in October. The aim of International Walk to School Month is to promote walking to school, which can be a good way for children to get exercise. This is especially important today, when obesity rates among school-aged children are so high. The other aim of International Walk to School Month is to promote safe and healthy routes to school.

Organizers of International Walk to School Month point out that children who walk to school year-round are at greater risk of being affected by pedestrian accidents and injuries, and organizers hope to reduce these personal injuries while helping to promote healthy activity for children. According to organizers of International Walk to School Month, there are several things that parents and communities can do to promote safer routes to school:

1) Promote good road safety. According to NHTSA, there are several reasons why children are more at risk for pedestrian accidents. One problem is that since children are smaller, they’re more difficult for drivers to see. Children who stand between parked cars are especially difficult for drivers to spot. Plus, younger children will often misjudge vehicle speeds and distances across the street, which can mean that they step out into dangerous situations. Parents can help their children by helping them understand how to cross streets safely. Children should be taught at an early age to always use sidewalks, and always wait until cars come to complete stop before crossing the road.

The Florida Department of Transportation is responsible for the Florida Pedestrian and Bicycle Program, which has a dedicated staff, many resources, and educational materials to help prevent Florida pedestrian accidents. The Florida Pedestrian and Bicycle Program makes educational brochures available and also runs the Florida School Crossing Guard Program and the Florida Traffic Safety Education Program.

The Florida Pedestrian and Bicycle Program is designed to help pedestrians (which in Florida are defined as anyone “afoot, in a wheelchair, on skates, or on a skateboard” enjoy safe and pleasant walking. The program also aims to assist bicyclists enjoy safe and convenient tours and bike trips. The program aims to reduce pedestrian accidents and automobile accidents involving bicyclists.

One of the most interesting programs run by the Florida Pedestrian and Bicycle Program is the Safe Ways to School program. According to a study conducted by the Florida Department of Transportation, only one out of six Florida children take a bike or walk to school. Five out of six Florida children get to school by bus or by private motor vehicle. This can actually create unsafe walking conditions, as it creates traffic congestion around schools and increases overall traffic.

A Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) report released about the government gives some insight into Florida’s fatal pedestrian accidents – and offers some tools for reducing the accident rates. According to the report and according to findings reported by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 28,970 fatal pedestrian accidents and 465,000 pedestrian injuries took place in the United States between 1990 and 1994. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) reports that roughly 9% of total US pedestrian accidents and pedestrian injuries occur in Florida. Pedestrian fatalities in Florida account for about 20% of car accident fatalities and 14% of traffic accident injuries.

The CUTR report finds that pedestrians and motorists do certain things to cause many pedestrian accidents, and this suggests that many of these accidents are preventable. According to the report, crash location and age of pedestrians affect fatalities. In Florida, the youngest and oldest walkers are most likely to be involved in pedestrian accidents. Pedestrians between 65 and 74 years of age are most likely to be killed in pedestrian accidents. Pedestrians moving along the roadway with traffic, and pedestrians who are crossing a roadway far from the intersection are most likely to be involved in an accident.

The CUTR report suggests that education of motorists and pedestrians can be a useful way to reduce accidents. Enforcement of laws against reckless driving can also help curb some of the behaviours that lead to pedestrian accidents, according to the report. The report also finds that increasing “WALK” signal times, and limiting vehicle turning movements can also help reduce the personal injuries and fatalities caused by pedestrian crashes.