(Newswire.net — July 31, 2019) — New York had the sixth highest number of pedestrian deaths in 2018, according to a report by the Governor’s Highway Safety Association. In fact, the U.S. as a whole had the highest number of pedestrian fatalities since 1990 in 2018, with 6,200 people killed across the nation.
The rise in pedestrian deaths has been blamed on technology. People are distracted by the technology in their cars and in their hands.
More people are also walking to work, which has increased the risk of pedestrian accidents and deaths.
Most pedestrian fatalities occur on local roads and at night, away from intersections. Over the last decade, 90% of pedestrian accident deaths occurred at night.
The combination of having more pedestrians on the street and both drivers and pedestrians being distracted by technology has resulted in more accidents and deaths.
The town of Colonie saw 33 pedestrian accidents last year, one of the highest in the Capital Region. Authorities say that most of the stops are for texting, but drivers aren’t the only ones distracted by their phones. Police say they routinely see people texting and walking, or ignoring crosswalks.
Distracted walking isn’t a problem that’s unique to the U.S. In Canada, laws such as the Phones Down, Heads Up Act prohibit pedestrians from holding and using some mobile devices while crossing the roadway.
“Pedestrians may no longer cross a roadway while holding and using a wireless communication device or electronic entertainment device unless they are contacting emergency services or continuing a phone call that began prior to crossing the roadway,” says a Toronto personal injury lawyer.
Texting isn’t the only distraction drivers face. A study from AAA found that older drivers are struggling to use high-tech infotainment systems in cars. The study tested two different groups – drivers aged 21-36 and drivers aged 55-75 – on tasks such as making phone calls, changing the radio station and using the vehicle’s navigation system.
The study found that the older drivers spent 40 seconds using the navigation system, whereas younger drivers spent just 31.4 seconds using the system. Taking your eyes off of the road for just two seconds doubles your risk of an accident.
The Governor’s Highway Safety Association report did have some good news. While pedestrian fatalities were up overall, many states (23 in total) saw a decline in pedestrian deaths in the first half of 2018 compared to 2017. Six of those states reported double-digit declines and three consecutive years of declines.