As October is getting underway, we wanted to remind everyone this month is National Pedestrian Safety Month. This month is a time to raise awareness about pedestrian safety and encourage drivers to be extra cautious around pedestrians.

Here are some tips for drivers to stay safe around pedestrians:
• Slow down: Obey speed limits and slow down at intersections.
• Be alert: Look out for pedestrians, especially near schools, parks, shopping areas, and transit stops.
• Yield: Yield to all pedestrians and give extra time to those who may need it.
• Avoid distractions: Put away distractions and stay off the phone while driving.
• Drive sober: Never drive impaired.
• Pedestrian deaths are a serious issue in the United States. In 2022, pedestrians accounted for 18% of all traffic fatalities. U.S. roads are among the most dangerous for people outside of cars in the developed world.

Per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the following are the highest contributing factors to pedestrian injuries and fatalities:
• Nighttime—In 2022, 78% of pedestrian fatalities occurred in the dark. From 2012-2021—a time when pedestrian fatalities have been increasing—the number of pedestrian fatalities that occurred in the dark increased by 64%, while daylight fatalities increased by 22%. In 2021, 25% of all pedestrian fatalities occurred from 6 p.m. to 8:59 p.m. and 26% from 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Non-Intersections—In 2022, 75% of fatal pedestrian crashes occur at places outside intersections (e.g., at locations with no traffic control device, marked lanes or signal lights, and mid-block crossings).
• Impairment—Alcohol use is a significant factor in fatal crashes. In 2022, 48% of all crashes resulting in pedestrian fatalities involved either a driver and/or pedestrian with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .01 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher.
• Hit and Run—Nearly one out of four pedestrians (24%) killed in crashes were struck by hit-and-run drivers. Common environmental and temporal factors surrounding hit-and-run crashes include poor lighting conditions, early morning time frame and occurrence on the weekend.
• Speed—Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to severe injury and fatality when struck by higher-speed vehicles. Even a modest reduction in average vehicle speed can result in significantly fewer and less severe pedestrian crashes. Lower speeds can also help to reduce the societal and individual costs of crashes and injury and the burden on post-crash care. The average risk of death for a pedestrian reaches 10% at an impact speed of 23 mph, 25% at 32 mph, 50% at 42 mph, 75% at 50 mph and 90% at 58 mph. Risks vary significantly by age. For example, the average risk of severe injury or death for a 70-year-old pedestrian struck by a car traveling at 25 mph is similar to the risk for a 30-year-old pedestrian struck at 35 mph.

The following are some other statistics and factors over the last few years related to pedestrian fatalities:
• In 2022, there were 7,522 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in the United States. That is 21 pedestrians a day and 145 pedestrians a week. This represents a 0.7% increase from the 7,470 pedestrian fatalities in 2021.
• On average, a pedestrian was killed every 70 minutes and injured every 8 minutes in traffic crashes in 2022.
• Pedestrian deaths accounted for 18% of all traffic fatalities in 2022 and 3% of all people injured in traffic crashes in 2022.
• In 2022, there were an estimated 67,336 pedestrians injured, an 11% increase from the 60,579 pedestrians injured in 2021.
• In 2022, the number of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes was the highest since 1981.
• Sixteen percent of the pedestrian fatalities occurred at intersections, 75% occurred at locations that were not intersections, and the remaining 9% occurred at other locations in 2022.
• More pedestrian fatalities occurred in the dark (78%) than in daylight (19%), dusk (2%), and dawn (2%) in 2022.
• Alcohol use is a significant factor in fatal crashes. In 2022, 48% of all crashes resulting in pedestrian fatalities involved either a driver and/or pedestrian with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher.
• Seventeen percent of the children 14 and younger killed in traffic crashes in 2022 were pedestrians.
• Research shows that the average risk of death for a pedestrian reaches 10% at an impact speed of 23 mph, 25% at 32 mph, 50% at 42 mph, 75% at 50 mph and 90% at 58 mph.
• Seventy percent of the pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2022 were males.
• More pedestrian fatalities occurred in urban areas (85%) than rural areas (15%) in 2022.
• Nearly 1 out of every 4 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2022 (24%) were struck by hit-and-run drivers.

NHTSA offers the following resources for parents, teachers, and family member.
• Child Pedestrian Safety Curriculum
• Pedestrian Safety Workshop, A Focus on Older Adults
• Safer School Bus Stops