CDC Report Sheds Light on Pedestrian Deaths
There were 47,392 pedestrian deaths in the United States between 2001 and 2010, according to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The death rates for men and women aged 75 years and older were higher than any other age group,” says CDC epidemiologist Laurie Beck.
Beck says personal factors, including frailty and slower walking rates, make the elder population more likely to get hit by passing vehicles. Age also often makes it more difficult for these people to recover from their injuries.
As for what can be done to try to bring the overall number of pedestrian deaths, Beck says there are a lot of options that have proven to be successful.
“Improving roadways by installing or upgrading crosswalks, sidewalks, raised medians, enforcement of speed limit and pedestrian right-of-way laws can help. Creating pedestrian safety zones are also effective,” says Beck.
The CDC report also say American Indians and Alaska natives had the largest number of traffic-related pedestrian deaths. Whites had the lowest.
9(MDAxODM0MDY4MDEyMTY4NDA3MzI3YjkzMw004))
Top Stories
