AAA Sees Increase In Pedestrian Fatalities

MUSKINGUM COUNTY, Ohio-The American Automobile Association has published the findings of a ten year study on fatal pedestrian accidents. 

The study was conducted from 2009 to 2018 and showed an increase by 55% in pedestrian deaths from previous decades. Causes for the increase have varied and were unexpected by AAA. 

“They’re most likely and they saw the largest growth in older pedestrians, ages 60-69, dark pedestrian crashes so crashes that happened at night on major urban roadways and had higher speeds, higher than thirty or forty miles per hour. We actually saw a decrease in younger pedestrian fatalities.”, spokeswoman Kimberly Schwind said via Zoom call.

Only a third of pedestrian fatalities were found to be caused by impaired driving. AAA sees local and state governments as the best combatants to pedestrian fatalities. 

“AAA is urging state and local transportation planning authorities to make sure that we’re providing people of all ages, especially in urban areas where we’re seeing the highest number of pedestrian crashes, with the sidewalks, crosswalks and infrastructure that they need to walk and move safely throughout urban areas.”, Schwind continued.

There 128 pedestrians killed in crashes in Ohio in 2019.