According to the Governors Highway Safety Association report, pedestrians killed in traffic accidents are at an all-time high. In 2018, 6,277 pedestrians were killed by traffic accidents, the highest number in 30 years. The most concerning thing for Texans in this report is that Texas makes up 10% of those deaths. As it turns out, Texas is in the top five contributors for pedestrians killed in car accidents. Big cities like Houston, have an unprecedented number of these deaths. Looking around Texas cities, you can see the issues. Long stretches of road are without crosswalks and the growth of larger vehicles on the road. These factors combined with more people being distracted by their phones are resulting in tragic circumstances.
Texas, Arizona, Florida, California, and Georgia are among the five states that make up almost half of the countries pedestrian fatalities. While several of these states have had a huge population boost, this isn’t the center of the problem. Sure, more people mean more acts of illegal crossing like jaywalking, but there are other factors at play. Experts in the area are blaming the way we build our transportation system. They cite that city roads are being designed for cars, not people. Many thoroughfares are also state highways. A road type where pedestrian fatalities are common.
These highspeed roads make it difficult for people to cross. Lots of people depend on public transit and walking to get around. This combined with roads designed for semi-trucks going 70MPH during rush hour, leads to a deadly outcome for thousands. To fight this increase, states like Florida are pushing for legislation that would allow police to ticket drivers for distracted driving. While cell phone use is the most popular form of distracted driving, it isn’t the only. Applying make-up, eating, and even petting a dog is considered distracted driving. Outlawing these actions while driving may lead to a drop in deaths. New England states that enacted these laws saw a 36% drop in fatalities in 2018. Rhode Island alone dropped its fatality rate by 60%.
Contact a San Antonio Accident Lawyer.
Have you or a loved one been in a serious car crash and suffered injuries? If so, you should contact an experienced Personal Injury attorney. Villarreal and Begum is a local San Antonio firm that will fight to get you the compensation that you deserve. We serve clients all across Texas with offices in San Antonio, McAllen, and Brownsville. We are available day and night to take your calls. Call or contact us via our website. The Texas Law Guns will fight for you.
The Villarreal & Begum, LAW GUNS dedicates their time and effort towards helping people in Texas find justice for personal negligence encountered while living their normal, everyday lives.