Over 6,000 pedestrian fatalities

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ccording to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2019, 6,205 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 76,000 pedestrians were injured nationwide.

Everyone is at some point a pedestrian and according to those numbers that means a person was killed every 85 minutes in traffic crashes in 2019.

NHTSA provides these tips to keep pedestrians safe:

Tips for drivers:

• Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times.

• Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather.

• Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.

• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.

• Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where you can’t see.

• Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

• Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present.

• Be extra cautious when backing up and look for pedestrians.

Tips for walkers:

• Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.

• Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available.

• If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.

• Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.

• If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross.

• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.

• Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and your judgment.

• Embrace walking as a healthy form of transportation - get up, get out and get moving.

Want to improve the walkability of your neighborhood? The administration also provides this walkability: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/walkingchecklist.pdf.