What Are Some Risk Factors for Pedestrian Accidents?

Pedestrian accidents resulting in injury and death continue to impact individuals from all walks of life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that in 2020, a pedestrian died once every 75 minutes as a result of an impact with a vehicle and that over 7,000 people died in these types of accidents in that same year.

These accidents have a variety of risk factors that pedestrians may want to identify and remember to keep themselves safer while traveling on foot.

Alcohol usage

Alcohol often plays a role in pedestrian crashes and in many cases, drinking impacted the rate of speed at which the driver traveled at the time of the accident. Incidents in which the driver and the pedestrian both had blood alcohol levels over the legal limits may occur in parking lots or near event venues, such as music concerts or sporting events.

Driver distractions

Distracted driving can play a significant role in pedestrian accidents. Drivers may become distracted by several different factors, including:

• Phone calls and text messages
• Passengers (especially children)
• Other vehicles in the vicinity

When drivers become agitated by distractions, they may not recognize crosswalks or brake in time for pedestrians to finish crossing safely.

Time of day

Pedestrians are usually more vulnerable to accidents at dusk and after sunset, when drivers may not see them until it is too late to prevent striking them. Those who walk at night can reduce this risk by wearing reflective clothing and walking in safer areas, such as well-lit paved trails or inside parks.

Children and the elderly account for a high percentage of pedestrian accident victims. However, the higher the incidence of risk factors nearby, the greater the chances of any type of pedestrian accident.