US Pedestrian Deaths Are a Growing Problem

According to a new Governors Highway Safety Association report, 15% of all motor vehicle collision-related deaths in 2016 were pedestrians, which is up from 11% just a decade ago. Factors that may possibly play a role in this increase include increased smartphone use, which can lead to distraction; improved safety features in cars, which may reduce the risk of serious injury to occupants but offer no benefit to pedestrians stuck by vehicles; and an increase in Americans walking for health, environmental, or economic reasons. Governors Highway Safety Association, March 2017