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Drivers are legally responsible for controlling their vehicles and need to be on the alert for distracted pedestrians. The NHTSA (National Traffic Safety Administration) reports that 70,000 pedestrians are injured, and more than 4,000, or 13 percent die, in automobile collisions every year. 

What are the 5 primary causes of pedestrian/vehicle accidents? 

The NSC (National Safety Council), the Insurance Journal, Pedbikesafe.org and Popcenter.org report the following: 

1. Darting into the street - 23 percent of deaths and injuries result from pedestrians darting into the street, with the majority of those being younger than age 15. 

2. Distracted walking - Injuries involving cell phones accounted for an estimated 11,101 injuries.  

3. Speeding - The majority of deaths occur on roadways that encourage speeding but do not provide sidewalks, crosswalks, signals and other protections for people who are walking. A recent NHTSA report on pedestrian safety finds that a pedestrian is 16 times more likely to be killed in a crash occurring on a road with a posted speed limit of 50 mph or higher, than on a road with a speed limit of under 30 mph. 

4. Alcohol - 47 percent of fatal pedestrian crashes involved either a pedestrian or driver under the influence of alcohol. 

5. Jaywalking – Jaywalking is often cited as poor pedestrian behavior that leads to pedestrian injuries and fatalities. Jaywalking is a general term for any form of illegal street-crossing by a pedestrian. There are several types of pedestrian behavior that qualify as jaywalking: 

• walking against a pedestrian walk signal,
• crossing a street where there is no crosswalk (midblock crossing),
• crossing a street outside of a marked crosswalk where one is present, and
• walking on a street along with the traffic flow (ignoring designated pedestrian pathways).

 How can motorists help prevent injuries and deaths from motor vehicle crashes? 

Pedbikeinfo.org says that drivers' failure to yield to pedestrians is a widespread problem that can be attributed to lack of knowledge, need for improved training programs, and inadequate mechanisms of accountability. Education programs backed up with vigorous enforcement measures often bring improvement. 

There are programs in states and cities that have improved yield-to-pedestrian compliance. They vary widely but have some elements in common, such as: 

• Institutional and political support for the program.
• Motorists are taught to expect pedestrians on the roadway and know that they must yield to them.
• Publicity measures remind motorists of their responsibility for pedestrian safety.
• Yield-to-pedestrian ordinances are enforced consistently. 

Safety tips for drivers 

The Center for Problem-Oriented Policing recommends the following: 

• Look out for pedestrians at all times. Safety is a shared responsibility.
• Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or in bad weather.
• Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.
• Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing.
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street.
• Follow slower speed limits in school zones and in neighborhoods where there are children present.
• Be extra cautious when backing up – pedestrians can move into your path. 

Fort Myers Pedestrian Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey says, “If you or a loved has been injured in a traffic pedestrian crash, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. to determine your rights.”

Fort Myers Pedestrian Accident Attorney,  Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.