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Walking a Fine Line: The Truth About Pedestrian Safety in Washington.

Are pedestrians an endangered species? When we look at pedestrian injuries and fatalities in this country, it is hard to draw the right conclusions. The pedestrian death toll in 2009 was 4,092, 22 percent less than in 1998. The personal injury rate over the same period dropped from 69,000 to 59,000, a 14.5 percent decline.

Does it mean that pedestrians are more careful? Are they better protected? Or are there simply fewer pedestrians around?

Is walking more dangerous than driving in Washington?

This is the hardest question to answer, because nobody has any accurate sense of the number of pedestrians in circulation and the miles they walk, or even how much time they spend on the streets, which is when pedestrians are exposed to traffic accidents.

For many Americans living in suburbs and rural areas, a car is the only option when it comes to commuting and shopping. In urban areas, walking is recommended and the pedestrian infrastructure is far better. Walking is a healthy activity, and the public health community recognizes that lack of physical activity is a major contributor to strokes and heart attacks, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths every year.

In Washington, pedestrian fatalities in 2009 totaled 492. This represents a fatality rate per 100,000 population of 0.92, significantly lower than the nation's average of 1.33.

Who is more likely to get killed in pedestrian accidents?

Not surprisingly, males. As for most other types of accidents, males top the charts, representing 69 percent of pedestrian fatalities.

The U.S. states with the highest pedestrian fatality rates are Florida, Louisiana and DC.

48 percent of all pedestrian fatalities occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and 70 percent at night (4 p.m. - 4 a.m.).

Close to 9 percent of all fatalities were pedestrians under age 16, and 36 percent of these were killed between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

In a recent study, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety concludes that the most common crash scenario involves a person crossing a road and a vehicle going straight. In most cases, nothing blocks the driver's view of the pedestrian, and no braking is reported.

For Washington pedestrians, this should come as a warning. Do not cross the road and assume that the driver sees you. Wait until the road is free.

At Monro Law Firm, we are dedicated to the safety of our clients. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a Washington pedestrian accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries. Call us today for a free consultation.