Study: Pedestrian deaths skyrocket across the U.S.

CHICAGO (May 8, 2018) – A new study released Tuesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says pedestrian deaths have reached the highest level in 28 years.

The study took a look at crashes that lead to the death of pedestrians to determine why the numbers have spiked in recent years. The results were shocking.

In 2016, 5,987 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents, the highest number since 1990. Even more alarming, the 46 percent increase in pedestrian deaths since 2009 far outpaces the 11 percent rise in total traffic deaths over the same period.

Researchers say this dramatic increase in fatalities is attributed to higher speed limits in many municipalities, the increase in arterial roads in urban-suburban areas, and the rise in popularity in SUVs.

To summarize, the study shows:

• Most pedestrian deaths occurred when it was dark and mostly on roads designed to funnel urban or suburban traffic onto freeways.
• The crashes generally occur where there are no intersections or poorly designed crosswalks that tempt pedestrians to dash across multiple lanes of swiftly moving vehicles.
• The crashes often involved SUVs or vehicles with a lot of horsepower, which suggests that many of the crashes also involved excess speed.

READ MORE | IIHS Status Report

The IIHS’s president, David Harkey, said an improvement in road design, vehicle design, and lighting and speed enforcement could all play a role in addressing the issue.

The report was released just one day after after the Illinois Department of Transportation announced they will be awarding nearly $36 million for bike and pedestrian projects around the state, with the goal of strengthening the Illinois’s transportation system.

Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. says this funding is a step in the right direction and is hopeful the new infrastructure will help keep pedestrians safe. But he says the work is far from over.

“More needs to be done so motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists can peacefully coexist on our roadways. Protected bike lanes and sidewalks are far from being fully woven into Illinois’s infrastructure,” Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. said.

Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. is available to discuss this report in more detail and weigh in on what needs to be done to make Illinois’s roads a safer place. To set up an interview, contact Marcie Mangan, Salvi Law’s Director of Public Relations, at (312) 372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com.