Latest news with #GovernorsHighwaySafetyAssociation
Forbes
11-07-2025
- Forbes
Walker Deaths Drop, But Hit-And-Run Crashes And Other Dangers Remain
Pedestrian deaths are increasing at a rate far faster than overall traffic fatalities. Between 2009 ... More and 2023, they rose a staggering 80%, while all other traffic fatalities increased 13%. Drivers struck and killed more than 7,000 people on roads in the United States in 2024, enough to fill 31 Boeing 737 passenger jets. It was a 4.3% decrease from the year before and marked the second annual decline, but pedestrian fatalities, which surged throughout the prior decade, remain nearly 20% above the 2016 level and reached a 40-year high in 2022. And in the last ten years, there are 'alarming trends' of walkers being killed in hit-and-run crashes, by SUVs and pickups, at night, and in places without sidewalks. Those are some of the main findings of a new data analysis of pedestrian fatalities released Thursday by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), a nonprofit organization representing state highway safety offices. 'The second straight year of fewer pedestrian deaths is a step in the right direction, but much more must be done to protect people walking,' Jonathan Adkins, chief executive of the safety association, said in a statement. The new report, 'Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2024 Preliminary Data,' provides an overview of the contributing factors and trends, an examination of national data, and an initial look at state-by-state fatality statistics. The report highlights how enforcement, data, technology, education, infrastructure and other known solutions are helping to improve safety, and recommendations on how to make the roads safer for people walking. Some key findings and trends about pedestrian deaths from the report: 'Now is the time to double down on what works – more and better infrastructure, enforcement to deter dangerous driving behaviors, engaged and informed communities, and vehicles designed to protect people on foot,' Adkins added. 'An all-in strategy to address pedestrian safety will help us build on this recent momentum and save even more lives.' For more information and to access the full report, click here and here.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Pedestrian deaths declined last year but remain high: report
This story was originally published on Smart Cities Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Smart Cities Dive newsletter. Pedestrian deaths in the U.S. fell for the second straight year in 2024 but remain nearly 20% higher than in 2016, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association report released today based on preliminary data. Drivers killed 7,148 people last year, with more than three quarters of pedestrian fatalities taking place after dark. Nearly two-thirds of deaths occurred in places lacking sidewalks. More than half of pedestrian deaths happened in collisions with SUVs and pickup trucks. These vehicles accounted for 54% of fatalities. Pedestrian fatalities rose from 4,779 in 2013 to a high of 7,593 in 2022 before beginning to decline, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Pedestrian deaths are increasing faster than overall traffic fatalities, the GHSA said, and now account for nearly one-fifth of all traffic-related deaths in the U.S. The GHSA report found that alcohol use played a role for both drivers and pedestrians. Speeding accounted for 8.1% of pedestrian fatalities in 2023, using data from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. A quarter of deaths involved drivers who left the scene of the accident. The nation's 10 most populous cities, which together accounted for 766 pedestrian deaths in 2023, saw a 9.6% decrease from the prior year, according to the report. New York City and San Diego achieved the largest declines, while San Antonio, Texas, was the only one of the 10 to see an increase in fatalities. New Mexico was the deadliest state in the nation for pedestrians in 2024, recording 4.41 deaths per 100,000 population, according to GHSA preliminary data. Arizona, Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi and Nevada all had more than 3 fatalities per 100,000 population, compared to the national rate of 2.10. Kentucky, South Carolina and Wyoming all lowered their pedestrian fatality rates by more than 0.50 points. A number of states have implemented targeted educational outreach to improve pedestrian safety. Illinois and Maryland, for example, created programs geared to school-age children. Connecticut and Rhode Island developed safety campaigns geared toward older pedestrians. Using crash data, Maine is focusing its outreach efforts on urban areas, while South Carolina is using social media and billboard advertising in the 10 counties with the highest number of pedestrian fatalities. Greater attention among all levels of government is being directed toward vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists, the report states. Tactics include road designs that foster safer vehicle speeds, refuge islands along wide roads and traffic signals at intersections that allow pedestrians to cross before cars. Law enforcement plays an important role in addressing dangerous driving behaviors that place pedestrians at risk, the report says. Most of this enforcement occurs at the local level and often focuses on speeding, distracted driving or driving while impaired. California, Washington, D.C., and some other states conduct operations using plain clothes officers at crosswalks. When they observe drivers who do not yield the right of way to pedestrians, they alert other officers stationed ahead to pull those motorists over for a citation or warning. California, Indiana and Utah also have programs to enforce laws requiring drivers to stop for a stopped school bus, helping to prevent injuries to children. 'The second straight year of fewer pedestrian deaths is a step in the right direction, but much more must be done to protect people walking,' said GHSA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins in a statement. 'Now is the time to double down on what works — more and better infrastructure, enforcement to deter dangerous driving behaviors, engaged and informed communities, and vehicles designed to protect people on foot.' Recommended Reading Enforcement, education could reduce traffic deaths from distracted driving: report Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Teen Drivers Behind the Wheel? Here's How Parents Can Actually Get Through to Them
Handing over the car keys to a teenager can be a proud moment, but let's be honest, it's also a nerve-wracking one. If you've got a new driver at home, chances are you've spent time worrying about speeding, distracted driving, or the group of friends fighting to ride shotgun. But here's the thing: while parental lectures often go in one ear and out the other, new research suggests that conversations about safe driving do have a lasting impact when handled the right way. Ahead of summer, a season known for a spike in teen driving accidents, safety experts are urging parents to open the dialogue. A recent campaign, supported by Ford's Driving Skills for Life program and the Governors Highway Safety Association, offers five smart strategies to help parents connect with their teen drivers and, hopefully, keep them safer on the road. According to the experts, driving safety isn't a one-and-done talk; it's actually a series of ongoing conversations. Start before your teen gets their permit, and continue well into their first year of solo driving. The more normal you make it to talk about driving risks and good habits, the more likely they are to absorb it. Yes, your teen is watching when you speed through that yellow light or check your phone at a red. In fact, studies show that parents' driving behaviors have a major influence on their kids' habits behind the wheel. If you want your teen to drive safely, your own driving should match the message. Creating household rules about curfews, passenger limits, and phone use can go a long way. But be prepared to explain why these rules matter. For example, letting them know that having just one peer in the car doubles their crash risk makes the rule about no friends during the first few months feel less random and more rooted in real data. Teens are more likely to respond to real-life examples than blanket warnings. Instead of just saying 'don't text and drive,' share actual stories of local accidents or near-misses, things that hit closer to home and feel tangible. It's simple, but often overlooked: more time behind the wheel with a calm parent builds skill and confidence. Just because your teen passed their test doesn't mean they're ready for every scenario. Weather changes, highway merges, nighttime driving — these are the areas where extra supervised practice really matters. Safe teen driving isn't just about passing a test or obeying the speed limit, but actually it's about consistent communication and real-world preparation. As the summer driving season heats up, parents have an opportunity (and a responsibility) to shape the kind of driver their teen becomes. And it starts with how you talk, not just how you drive. So the next time you hand over the keys, take a breath and just start the conversation. It just might be the most important one you have all summer.
Axios
13-03-2025
- General
- Axios
Tennessee sees decrease in pedestrian deaths, but more progress needed
Pedestrian deaths are ticking down in Nashville and across Tennessee, although numbers remain far higher than they were a decade ago. Why it matters: There are measures that experts agree make pedestrians safer. Incremental progress in recent years could be a sign some improvements are working. Advocates and government agencies say doubling down on those strategies could help prevent more pedestrian deaths in the future. The latest: A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association shows Tennessee making significant strides toward improving pedestrian safety. By the numbers: Tennessee saw 63 pedestrian deaths during the first half of 2024, according to the report. That is a 30% drop compared with the same period in 2023. The national report singled out our state's trend as particularly promising because of our "historically higher fatality counts." Zoom in: More recent numbers from Nashville show that trend extending further. Metro police reported that 33 pedestrians were killed in Davidson County in 2024. That's down from 39 in 2023. Yes, but: It's far too soon for a victory lap. That is still far more than the 18 pedestrian deaths Nashville logged in 2014. What they're saying: Wesley Smith of the advocacy group Walk Bike Nashville tells Axios the city must continue investments. For instance, Nashville Electric Service is in the midst of updating streetlights. But Smith urged officials to push upgrades to Murfreesboro Pike to the top of the list. He says that was the most dangerous road for pedestrians in 2024, accounting for nearly 1 in 4 fatal pedestrian crashes. State of play: The Nashville Department of Transportation has several ongoing projects aimed at improving pedestrian safety. The agency is conducting studies on major roads to determine whether speed limits should be lower. (Sections of Dickerson and Lebanon pikes have already gotten lower speed limits, NDOT spokesperson Cortnye Stone says.) What's next: The first wave of Mayor Freddie O'Connell's Choose How You Move transportation plan will fund additional projects, including the beginning of a redesign for a high-traffic stretch of Gallatin Pike/Main Street in East Nashville.
Axios
10-03-2025
- General
- Axios
Pedestrian traffic deaths rise in Indiana despite national drop
There were fewer pedestrian deaths on U.S. roads in the first half of 2024 compared to a year prior, but Indiana was one of nearly two dozen states that saw an increase. Why it matters: Cities are trying to reduce pedestrian deaths — so many of which are utterly avoidable — through "Vision Zero" programs, lower speed limits, "traffic calming" road designs and more. Driving the news: 3,304 pedestrians were killed on roads nationwide between January and June 2024, per a new Governors Highway Safety Association preliminary report. That's 88 fewer deaths than during the same period in 2023, but 1,072 more than during the same period in 2014. Stunning stat: "Between the first half of 2014 and 2024, pedestrian deaths have risen at a rate almost seven times faster than population growth," the report finds. Zoom in: There were 49 deaths in Indiana in the first half of last year, according to the report. That's 10 more than the same period in 2023 — a 26% increase. Indy Pedestrian Safety Crisis, a group that tracks local pedestrian deaths, injuries and other safety incidents, recorded 41 deaths in the city last year. State of play: The Indianapolis City-County Council established a Vision Zero Task Force last year with the goal of "eliminating all fatal and serious injury crashes on city streets by 2035." It is tasked with creating and adopting an action plan by July 1. The latest: During a City-County Council meeting last month, task force members discussed recent traffic calming projects that may serve as models for future Vision Zero work — such as the makeover of a section of College Avenue and the Michigan Street road diet. At that meeting, a row of chairs in the audience was left empty and labeled with the names of several pedestrians killed in the last year. Jakob Morales, the advocacy committee chair for Bike Indianapolis, told Fox 59 he feels his group's concerns are being taken seriously but that they'll continue to monitor the city's progress. "People will continue to be killed," he said, "so we need to act urgently."
