There were 53% more fatal pedestrian accidents in 2018 than 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There are several reasons for this increase.
Town and road planning is not protecting pedestrians and often allows cars to go faster. The faster the vehicle, the more damage is done if it hits a pedestrian.
Distracted drivers and distracted pedestrians are more common than before, largely thanks to the rise in smartphones and the use of headphones. People are driving and walking around in a bubble.
There are more cars on the roads each year, and the cars people drive are more dangerous to pedestrians. With SUVs and trucks dominating the market, your chances of surviving a pedestrian accident are reducing. It is to do with the height of these vehicles, when they hit you, they hit you from the waist up, right where your vital organs are. Those film stunts where you see someone roll over the car and walk away the other side may work with a low car, but not with an SUV.
Being hit by a car as a pedestrian can be costly in more ways than one. If it happens to you or a family member, there are legal options available to you. While many new cars are coming with pedestrian detection systems, they are not yet saving the lives that people hoped they would. For now, it is down to planners to make our streets safer, pedestrians to take care and drivers to slow down and stay alert for pedestrians.