That time of year, pedestrian fatality risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child used to work in traffic safety as an engineer.
The most culpable were the cyclists who don’t want to slow down and lose momentum.
Pedestrians need to assume the worst. Assume that the drivers do not see you.
No one is out there trying to run anyone over. It’s usually a visibility issue.
Has anyone noticed that work crews must wear their vests? It makes a difference.

No it isn't. It is a distracted driving issue. Drivers hit things with their cars when they are not using appropriate caution and paying sufficient attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wear a reflective vest and my dog wears a light up collar. I’m still shocked at the number of cars I have to dodge (neighborhood does not have many sidewalks, and not many streetlights). The vest does nothing if drivers aren’t looking.

I'm noticing that this thread is not making a distinction between pedestrians that are walking as a means of transportation and those that are not.

Sure, if I am going out for a jog or to walk my dog at 9:00 at night, no big deal to put on some bright clothing.
But the majority of pedestrians that are hit are trying to get from one place to another in their day-to-day life. Expecting special attire or special equipment to do that is not the answer. The answer is safer road design that optimizes for the safety of everybody getting around, as opposed to optimizing for the speed of the cars. The answer is to incentivize caution while operating a multi-ton vehicle at high speed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wear a reflective vest and my dog wears a light up collar. I’m still shocked at the number of cars I have to dodge (neighborhood does not have many sidewalks, and not many streetlights). The vest does nothing if drivers aren’t looking.

I'm noticing that this thread is not making a distinction between pedestrians that are walking as a means of transportation and those that are not.

Sure, if I am going out for a jog or to walk my dog at 9:00 at night, no big deal to put on some bright clothing.
But the majority of pedestrians that are hit are trying to get from one place to another in their day-to-day life. Expecting special attire or special equipment to do that is not the answer. The answer is safer road design that optimizes for the safety of everybody getting around, as opposed to optimizing for the speed of the cars. The answer is to incentivize caution while operating a multi-ton vehicle at high speed.

But in the here and now, the roads are what they are. If I’m commuting home from a bus and have four blocks to walk in the dark, I’m taking out a reflective vest and putting it on. They are light weight and inexpensive. I have one in my car for emergencies. Mandatory in some countries as equipment in the car. Also, it’s bad judgement to cross the road recklessly wearing low visibility attire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child used to work in traffic safety as an engineer.
The most culpable were the cyclists who don’t want to slow down and lose momentum.
Pedestrians need to assume the worst. Assume that the drivers do not see you.
No one is out there trying to run anyone over. It’s usually a visibility issue.
Has anyone noticed that work crews must wear their vests? It makes a difference.

No it isn't. It is a distracted driving issue. Drivers hit things with their cars when they are not using appropriate caution and paying sufficient attention.

Before mobile phones, pedestrians got killed. It still comes down to drivers hitting things that they did not know were there.

[Anonymous]

Maybe at the very least we could buy brightly colored coats and jackets for our kids. It’s so easy to buy outerwear that’s white, bright red, lime green, bright pink with reflective materials incorporated. Cyclists could easily wear bright colored clothing in addition to the little (too small) light on their bikes. Neon green or yellow outfits don’t slow you down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child used to work in traffic safety as an engineer.
The most culpable were the cyclists who don’t want to slow down and lose momentum.
Pedestrians need to assume the worst. Assume that the drivers do not see you.
No one is out there trying to run anyone over. It’s usually a visibility issue.
Has anyone noticed that work crews must wear their vests? It makes a difference.

No it isn't. It is a distracted driving issue. Drivers hit things with their cars when they are not using appropriate caution and paying sufficient attention.

Before mobile phones, pedestrians got killed. It still comes down to drivers hitting things that they did not know were there.

I never said cell phones. I said distracted driving, which can happen for a lot of reasons. They did not know they were there because they were distracted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need to end this BS of it getting dark at 4:40pm. This serves no one. I hate it. The only state that has it right is Arizona.

I agree it makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Carry a flash light too and stay on sideways Im shocked by how many people are just walking in the street with no light or reflective gear on. Walk in safe areas if you're walking for exercise in the dark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The people who I fear the most are the people on e-bikes and scooters. Most of these morons will drive on the sidewalk and never stop, even though they are going at high speed. They’ll zoom through crosswalks even when people are walking on them.

That’s why Paris banned them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pedestrian fatalities tend to increase after the fall time change, when the end of daylight saving time leads to earlier sunsets. This creates a higher risk because it becomes darker earlier, catching pedestrians and drivers off guard. This is despite the fact that there are fewer pedestrians out compared to spring and summer.
Safety tips for pedestrians
Increase visibility: Wear bright or reflective clothing to be more visible to drivers, particularly during dawn and dusk.
Walk during daylight: If possible, adjust your walking routine to occur during daylight hours.
Stay alert: Avoid distractions like using your phone or wearing earbuds that can prevent you from hearing approaching traffic.
Be mindful of drivers: Remember that drivers may be drowsy or less attentive, and be cautious when crossing streets.

I blame 95% of pedestrian accidents on pedestrians. People need to pay attention, and get off their phones when walking and crossing streets. Also, a crosswalk does not mean you can just jump into the road to cross at any time. Cars only need to yield to pedestrians IN the crosswalk not those standing there waiting to cross.

I couldn’t agree more. Pedestrians have to keep looking even if you have the right away as drivers that are texting or doing whatever can slam right into them and pedestrians have their heads in the clouds. Cars don’t fall on someone’s head out of nowhere. If a pedestrian gets hit by a bus, I always think the pedestrian could have avoided it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pedestrian fatalities tend to increase after the fall time change, when the end of daylight saving time leads to earlier sunsets. This creates a higher risk because it becomes darker earlier, catching pedestrians and drivers off guard. This is despite the fact that there are fewer pedestrians out compared to spring and summer.
Safety tips for pedestrians
Increase visibility: Wear bright or reflective clothing to be more visible to drivers, particularly during dawn and dusk.
Walk during daylight: If possible, adjust your walking routine to occur during daylight hours.
Stay alert: Avoid distractions like using your phone or wearing earbuds that can prevent you from hearing approaching traffic.
Be mindful of drivers: Remember that drivers may be drowsy or less attentive, and be cautious when crossing streets.

I blame 95% of pedestrian accidents on pedestrians. People need to pay attention, and get off their phones when walking and crossing streets. Also, a crosswalk does not mean you can just jump into the road to cross at any time. Cars only need to yield to pedestrians IN the crosswalk not those standing there waiting to cross.

Help me understand this. A pedestrian who is not "paying attention" while literally crossing a street is more at fault than the driver who is not "paying attention" and hits them?

It doesn’t matter who has the right of way as one is in a car, so pedestrians have to practice defensive walking and keep looking to make sure cars come to a stop

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pedestrian fatalities tend to increase after the fall time change, when the end of daylight saving time leads to earlier sunsets. This creates a higher risk because it becomes darker earlier, catching pedestrians and drivers off guard. This is despite the fact that there are fewer pedestrians out compared to spring and summer.
Safety tips for pedestrians
Increase visibility: Wear bright or reflective clothing to be more visible to drivers, particularly during dawn and dusk.
Walk during daylight: If possible, adjust your walking routine to occur during daylight hours.
Stay alert: Avoid distractions like using your phone or wearing earbuds that can prevent you from hearing approaching traffic.
Be mindful of drivers: Remember that drivers may be drowsy or less attentive, and be cautious when crossing streets.

I blame 95% of pedestrian accidents on pedestrians. People need to pay attention, and get off their phones when walking and crossing streets. Also, a crosswalk does not mean you can just jump into the road to cross at any time. Cars only need to yield to pedestrians IN the crosswalk not those standing there waiting to cross.

A pedestrian who is not "paying attention" while literally crossing a street is more at fault than the driver who is not "paying attention" and hits them.

THIS. ^ It's always up to the person walking to be cautious and it's always their fault if they get hit when walking in a road that is meant for cars.
Same for bicycle riders, etc.

The issue here is the belief that roads are always "meant for cars."

Roads are mainly for cars. Pedestrians have side walks.

Pedestrians have to cross roads, idiot. Otherwise you’re advocating that pedestrians can only walk around the block. So glad I don’t live in a city where cars rule.

You are missing the point. Pedestrians have more responsibility to stay alive and people don’t keep looking when they get walk signal. If someone in a car is texting, they will blow right through you. You’ll be dead with the right of way

[Anonymous]

OP here. At the end of the day, pedestrians need to think. Even with an alert driver, if someone wearing all black decides to sit on the ground at the bus stop at 6 pm, he or she is taking a serious risk (I just saw this last night!).
I would like everyone to stay alert, including drivers. Slow down, there could be a pedestrian or cyclist in your blind spot or pillar.
Pedestrians and cyclists need to get used to wearing neon and reflective clothing, even if it is for a daily commute.