Over the past decade, the US, including Connecticut, experienced a significant hike in pedestrian fatalities, reports the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in a new research brief.
From 2009 – 2018, more than 51,00 pedestrians, including more than 430 in Connecticut, were killed across the country.
According to the report, which analyzed figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrian fatalities rose from 4,109 in 2009 to 6,374 in 2018. The year 2019 saw slightly fewer fatalities – 6,205 – but still the second most since 1990.
Darkness, speed and a lack of sidewalks and lighting are among the factors which made pedestrians vulnerable and contributed to the increase, the report said.
Connecticut was no exception to this alarming trend. In 2009, 26 Nutmeggers were killed while walking. This number increased to 59 pedestrians in 2018 and 54 in 2019. While 2020 data hasn’t yet been finalized, the UConn Crash Data Repository reports 43 pedestrians were killed last year, despite the drop in traffic due to the pandemic.
“Pedestrian safety is s crisis, not only across the country but in Connecticut,” said Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman “Even though 2020 numbers are down because fewer people were driving last year, 43 deaths is still an alarming number.”
In other highlights in the AAA Foundation report:
- Fatalities among the 60 -69 age group more than doubled over the past decade from 436 in 2009 to 943 to 2018; while the number of children and teens killed decreased slightly, the only groups for whom pedestrian fatalities declined.
- Virtually, the overall increase in fatalities nationwide occurred on urban roads;
- Generally, most pedestrian fatalities were male, occurred in darkness, in non-intersection locations without crosswalks, and occurred on roads with speed limits of 40 miles per hour or higher.
To address increases in pedestrian deaths, AAA recommends
- Municipalities install sidewalks, street lighting and other safety measures in areas where pedestrians frequently travel;
- Schools and traffic safety partners such as AAA focus on traffic education for all grade levels; and
- Drivers be attentive for pedestrians, especially at dusky or in darkness.