Driver Safety Improves, but Georgia Roads Still a Threat to Pedestrians Everyone walks.

Georgia is a state full of active residents and visitors alike. A Georgia Winter is typically mild in comparison to her neighbors to the north, and that makes the states scenic outdoors an appealing option. Walking instead of biking, driving, or otherwise using a vehicle can be a fun and economical way to travel short distances doing so is not without its risks, however. In 2010, United States traffic accidents claimed 4,280 pedestrian lives. From 2009 to 2010, the number of pedestrian fatalities increased 5 percent on average, but that rate jumped by over 50 percent in 6 states. Georgia is not insulated from these alarming statistics. Though driver safety across the Peach State has improved, she still placed eighth on a 2010 list of the most dangerous states for pedestrians. (Florida topped the list, with 487 pedestrian deaths in 2010.) Some people could be quick to write-off such a statistic. Consider this: Georgia currently has the third lowest percentage of people who walk to and from work and, in 2008, the state placed eighteenth on the list of states which are dangerous to pedestrians. State traffic boards can only do so much to legislate and warn drivers and pedestrians to look out for both themselves and others. At some point, individuals must make safety a higher priority. Dangers for both Pedestrians and Motorists Some of the threats to pedestrian safety also threaten the safety of motorists. Traveling at night and on or around busy streets can be as dangerous for drivers as for walkers, according to U. S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Streets on which crosswalks are few and far between or totally nonexistent are also a threat to everyone. Pedestrians could attempt an ill-fated trip across a busy street without a crosswalk, the result of which could be as detrimental to motorists on the street as it is to the walker. Certain populations also pose specific risks. Unsupervised children and young people may be more likely to cross a street that a mature adult would know not to attempt. Older adults might be more exposed to risk than younger adults. Unsupervised children might inadvertently wander into dangerous traffic situations, whereas older folks might have difficulty walking quickly enough to cross a street in time to avoid traffic. The latter group concerns Norm Cressman of Georgias Department of Transportation. Cressmans Concerns Cressman is G-DOTs Safety Project Manager, and hes concerned that older Georgia residents do not have enough time to cross at intersections and crosswalks. Residential housing areas are often built beside wide highways whose crosswalks are spaced far apart and which are more than half a mile from bus stops in some cases. He says such a layout almost encourages residents

of those communities to cross the road unsafely. While a young person might dodge a bullet while jaywalking, an older person might be struck by oncoming traffic. Peach State Statistics Even though the rate of pedestrian deaths has gone down across the country, the number of Georgia pedestrians killed each year has gone up since 2001. Fresh stats from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that Georgias streets and roads have become safer for drivers but not for pedestrians; Georgias pedestrian fatality rate is 25 percent higher than the national rate; pedestrians make up a larger portion of all traffic fatalities than do other populations of travelers; and in 2010, 13.5 percent of the states 1,244 highway deaths were pedestrians in 2001, pedestrians made up only 9 percent.

Georgias demographics are similar to other states that have a high rate of pedestrian deaths, such as Hawaii, Florida, and Arizona. Such statistics include a large elderly population and a healthy tourism industry. Though the number of pedestrian deaths has gone down across the U. S., Georgia streets are just as deadly as ever. If you or a loved one has been injured, or if a loved one has died, in an accident in Georgia, contact the law firm of Millar & Mixon, LLC. We have offices in Atlanta, and we handle car accident and personal injury cases in Atlanta and the surrounding metro area. Call us at (404) 994-7724 for a free case evaluation or visit our website, where you may complete our online contact form. These articles are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Professional legal counsel should be sought for specific advice relevant to your circumstances.