How location influences pedestrian crash risk

There are rules that allow pedestrians to share the road more safely with motor vehicles. Most urban areas also have sidewalks that keep pedestrians off the street. If everyone consistently followed traffic rules and prioritized safety, pedestrian crashes would be incredibly rare.

However, thousands of people every year die in pedestrian collisions, and tens of thousands of others sustain significant injuries. Numerous factors contribute to pedestrian crash risk.

Alcohol use and distraction on the part of the driver or the pedestrian can increase collision risk. Larger vehicles tend to be more dangerous for pedestrians.

Location is also an important consideration. The places where pedestrians walk may influence their likelihood of a pedestrian collision and how severe a crash is if one occurs.

What locations are the most dangerous?

According to an analysis of pedestrian crashes by the National Safety Council (NSC), 76% of all fatal pedestrian crashes occur on the open road, as opposed to at an intersection. It is therefore typically safer for pedestrians to prioritize using crosswalks and staying on the sidewalk as much as possible.

Urban locations are also more likely to see major pedestrian crashes, as they are where 83% of pedestrian fatalities occur. Factors, including traffic density and the number of pedestrians, contribute to overall collision risk.

However, it is worth noting that pedestrians on rural roads are at elevated risk due to a lack of overhead lighting and higher speed limits. Almost three-quarters of the deaths reported occurred in dark conditions without lighting. Higher speeds significantly increase the risk of severe injury and death.

Locations that people associate with high levels of pedestrian traffic and lower speeds, like parking lots, can also be dangerous. Parking lots see quite a few collisions, many of which relate to unsafe driving habits and distraction.

Obviously, pedestrians can’t always control where they walk. Still, they can be assertive about following the law and making use of the infrastructure in place for their protection. If they end up hurt because of a crash, they may need help holding the driver at fault accountable for what happened.

Reviewing the circumstances surrounding a pedestrian collision with a skilled legal team can help people determine what options they have for compensation. Injured pedestrians and grieving families may have the right to file insurance claims or to pursue civil litigation.

Visit Our Issaquah Law Office