Walking can provide a number of benefits, such as helping you save money while improving your health. However, you need to recognize the various risks that you face as a pedestrian. Whenever you walk near moving vehicles, you face the risk of sustaining an injury or even losing your life in an accident.
Sadly, statistics show that far too many pedestrians continue to find themselves facing devastating hardships following traffic accidents. Many of these accidents take place due to the negligence of drivers, such as people who drink alcohol or use their phones while behind the wheel.
Statistics shed light on fatal pedestrian accidents
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that during 2020, pedestrians represented one out of every six people who lost their lives in traffic accidents. To look at this data in a different way, accidents involving motor vehicles claimed the lives of over 7,000 pedestrians during 2020. On average, a traffic crash claimed a pedestrian’s life every 75 minutes in 2020.
Reviewing pedestrian accident injuries
Aside from deaths, many pedestrians suffer serious injuries in accidents as well. In fact, estimates published on the CDC’s site suggest that nonfatal traffic accident injuries resulted in 104,000 emergency department visits in 2020.
The CDC recommends that pedestrians wear reflective clothes at night and use a flashlight to increase their visibility. You should always try to use crosswalks when crossing the street (if available) and walk on sidewalks or paths off of the road when you can. Unfortunately, even if you prioritize your safety as a pedestrian, a careless driver could cause an accident.