Pedestrian death rates on US roads hit a record in 28 years: unexpected causes are identified

According to a new report by the Road Safety Association, the number of pedestrians killed on US roads in 2018 has reached its highest level since 1990.

Фото: Depositphotos

According to experts of the association, 2018 6 pedestrians were killed on the roads of the country in 227, which is 250 more than in 2017. The association based its assessment on data collected by local traffic safety departments in all 50 states, writes NBC News.

The association said that since 2008, the death rate among pedestrians in the United States has increased by 41%, and now it accounts for 16% of all traffic accidents.

Why are more pedestrians dying on the roads

Americans' growing love of pickups and SUVs means that pedestrians are confronted with larger, heavier and more powerful vehicles. As a result, injured pedestrians are more likely to die or receive life-threatening injuries, the association said. It is estimated that the death rate among pedestrians from off-road vehicles jumped by 50% between 2013 and 2017.

Another factor is population growth in many states, which has led to an increase in the number of collisions of cars and pedestrians. The report also notes that people have become more distracted by smartphones and are not focused on the road, which leads to an increase in the deaths of pedestrians.

Add to this a strong economy with relatively cheap gasoline, which encourages people to ride a bоlonger distances, and this also increases the threat to pedestrians.

The association estimates that in the first half of 2018, nearly half of pedestrian fatalities occurred in five U.S. states—Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia and Texas. In the first half of 2018, New Mexico had the highest rate of pedestrian fatalities per 100 residents, the report said. The lowest pedestrian fatality rate last year was recorded in New Hampshire.

Read also on ForumDaily:

10 is the worst for the life of US cities

How much does drunk driving cost in different states

What in New York you can lose a driver's license

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.