In fact, cycling and walking on New York\u2019s bridges jumped 52% after the city went on lockdown. Cabin-fever has people walking around multiple times a day. Even pedestrian deaths are up in certain cities, despite fewer cars on the road, like in Tennessee. Police data showed more pedestrians are dying on Nashville roads when compared to last year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
More restricted car access nationwide<\/strong> Restaurants and other businesses are pouring onto sidewalks<\/strong> In the age of this pandemic, and as social distancing is the new norm, it\u2019s important to shed light on pedestrian safety more than ever before. Did you know that in 2018 there were 6,283 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes? That number is the highest since 1990 and a 3.4% increase from 2017. On average, a pedestrian died every 84 minutes in 2018 \u2014 accounting for 17% of all traffic fatalities.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Last year, pedestrian deaths rose 5%<\/strong> \u2022 Walk on a sidewalk or path. If those options aren\u2019t available, walk facing traffic and as far from cars as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u2022 Cross streets at marked crosswalks or intersections; this is where drivers expect pedestrians. If you can\u2019t, find a well-lit area, wait for a gap in traffic with enough time to cross safely. Don\u2019t forget to continue to look out for traffic while crossing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u2022 Don\u2019t walk while impaired! About 33% of fatal pedestrian crashes in 2018 involved a pedestrian who was drunk.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u2022 Never assume drivers see you; they could \u00a0also be distracted or impaired. Try to make eye contact so you\u2019re sure to be seen. At night, wear reflective materials, or use a flashlight.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Drivers Safety Tips<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u2022 Look for pedestrians everywhere. They may be walking in unexpected areas, or even hard to see at night, in poorly lit areas, or in bad weather.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u2022 Always stop or yield for pedestrians in the crosswalk.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u2022 Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. They might be stopped to allow pedestrians to cross the street.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u2022 Stay alert where children are present, such as school zones and local neighborhoods.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Slow down and adhere to speed limits as lower speeds are one of the most crucial factors in pedestrian crash survivability.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With city lockdown orders, work-from-home alternative, and less commute & driving, there are definitely more pedestrians walking around communities nationwide. Mobility trends in the social distancing era, open streets movements,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,39,1590,44,5,1600,16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-13920","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-california","7":"category-cars","8":"category-coronavirus","9":"category-family","10":"category-florida","11":"category-pedestrians","12":"category-safety"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
In an effort to give people the chance to spread out and follow social distancing guidelines, cities such as Philadelphia, Boston, Minneapolis, and Denver have closed miles and miles of streets to make them car-free. In Oakland, in the Bay Area of California, the Slow Streets initiative restricted car access to 74 miles of roads. Local used that extra space to walk, ride bikes, and rollerblade.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Being outdoors is safer than being inside regarding restaurants and other enclosed businesses. Denver just launched a program to give businesses the option to expand into their adjacent sidewalks, streets, and even parking lots. Chicago in next to follow suit, while Cincinnati and Tampa have already taken those steps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
In 2019, U.S. pedestrian deaths have hit their highest level in 30 years with an estimated 6,590 pedestrians being killed in motor-vehicle crashes last year. As everyone strives for more safety, the United States Department of Transportation has some great guidelines and tips to follow for pedestrian safety\u2014 both for pedestrians and drivers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Pedestrian Safety Tips<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.etags.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/ASK-ETAGS.png\")
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