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Pedestrian deaths and injuries have been on the rise over the past few years, and the reasons why are still a mystery to many. While some blame the increase on distracted drivers and drunk pedestrians, others point the finger at distracted pedestrians and stupid behavior. Some believe that we should not be walking at all and instead use cars and other forms of transportation. There is no single answer to this question, and we do not claim to have the Answer. However, there are many reasons why pedestrians are being injured and killed more often. Below are a few of them:
Reasons why pedestrians are being injured and killed
There are more Cars on the Road
In 2016, there were an estimated 1.2 million pedestrian injuries and around 25,000 deaths from these accidents in the United States. Nearly 900,000 of these fatalities occurred from crashes with motor vehicles. The majority of pedestrian injuries and deaths that occur in the United States are preventable. Whether it's due to an aging population or simply an increase in the number of drivers on the road, we're seeing more and more pedestrian injuries and fatalities. And while we can't say for sure what is causing this trend, we do know that the more cars on the road, the more pedestrian injuries and fatalities, and the more likely it is that you will be hit by a car.
Using a phone while walking
While walking, we place our attention on a variety of things—children, indoor plants, trees, and flowers, of course. But we also tend to look down at our cell phones, reading the texts we've missed and re-reading our last email. Walking and texting can be dangerous for several reasons: we might fail to notice a dangerous situation and get hurt; we might not see something that can get us killed; we might get distracted and miss a dangerous distraction; we might try to look at our texts and walk at the same time, and get hit by a car, or we might be distracted by the need to scroll through our text messages and miss seeing a dangerous situation. All of these outcomes can be fatal.
There are more People Walking
Although it may be hard to believe, especially after the high-profile pedestrian fatalities in New York City in recent years, the number of people walking and biking has been falling in the U.S. (and other countries). In fact, the total number of walking and biking trips has been falling for decades—from a high of more than 100 billion in 1975 to about 80 billion in 2013.
As people try to reach their goal of 10,000 steps a day, it may lead to more pedestrians on the streets. It works the opposite way, too. If you are already physically active, it may lead to less physical activity. This is because you are more inclined to exercise if you are already doing it, which makes you more likely to stay within 10,000 steps.
The number of pedestrian fatalities has been steadily increasing in recent years. There are many theories as to why this is occurring. Still, one of the most popular amongst traffic safety advocates is that the number of vehicles on the road has increased, which has led to more severe injuries and deaths.
It's the responsibility of every person to maintain the law and act responsibly. The law enforces the rights of the ones who are responsible for the rights of others. For example, the law enforces the right of the innocent to walk to the right, the right to safe driving, the right to help in any situation, the right to life, etc. In a world where there is a lot of information about the best ways to defend yourself against a criminal charge, it seems strange that so many people don't think about getting a St Louis pedestrian accident lawyer until they have been arrested for a crime. In fact, a study from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that nearly 30 percent of Americans don't even know that they should consult a lawyer before talking to police, even about petty offenses. It's a cautionary tale that could help you avoid a criminal conviction.