California is one of the most dangerous states for pedestrians. Here’s what we know
Pedestrian deaths in California jumped 12% in the first half of last year, well above the national average increase of 3%, according to a report from the Governors Highway Safety Association released Thursday.
And no one has a good answer as to why pedestrians are more and more at risk.
“The number of pedestrian fatalities is increasing every year and nobody knows exactly why,” said Richard Retting, a safety researcher who wrote the report.
A total of 519 pedestrians were killed in the state between January and June 2019, 55 more than the same period a year ago.
Overall, GHSA estimated that 6,590 pedestrians were killed nationwide last year, up 5% from the previous year and highest number since 1988.
California was one of six states reporting double-digit increases in the number of pedestrian fatalities. And it was one of five states — Texas, Arizona, Florida and Georgia were the others — that accounted for 47% of all pedestrian deaths in the first half of 2019.
Viewed another way, California had 1.31 deaths per 100,000 people. That ranked it as the ninth most dangerous state, behind New Mexico, Hawaii, Florida, South Carolina, Arizona, Louisiana and Nevada. Vermont was the safest state, with 0.18 deaths per 100,000 people.
Experts for years have agreed on no single reason for the increases. They’ve cited more people walking and bicycling in urban areas, more use of cell phones and other electronic devices, bigger vehicles that are more likely to kill or maim on impact and alcohol and drug use.
The governors’ report noted these reasons for the latest trend:
▪ SUVs. Pedestrians struck by a large SUV are twice as likely to be killed as those hit by a car, the group said. Over the past 10 years, the number of pedestrian deaths involving SUVs went up 81%, well above the increase in passenger-car related deaths.
▪ Speeding, alcohol use and other unsafe driving or pedestrian behavior. Alcohol impairment — by either the driver or pedestrian — was involved in nearly half the crashes that led to fatalities in 2018.
▪ Unsafe road crossings. Over the past decade, nighttime pedestrian deaths went up 67%. Daytime fatalities were up 16%.
The report did cite efforts by the state to reduce pedestrian danger.
It noted initiatives involving classroom education, community events, presentations and workshops, notably in high-risk areas.
Also cited in the report were California’s engineering improvements, including “using pedestrian warning signs, implementing high-visibility crosswalk markings, imposing parking restrictions to improve visibility and adjusting traffic signals at certain intersections to give pedestrians a head start before a vehicle turns.”
This story was originally published March 2, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
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