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# National Pedestrian and Cyclist Deaths at Highest Number in Nearly 30 Years
- URL: https://www.legalexaminer.com/lestaffer/transportation/national-pedestrian-and-cyclist-deaths-at-highest-number-in-nearly-30-years/
- Published: 2019-10-25T15:30:23.000Z
- Updated: 2019-10-25T15:30:23.000Z
- Description: On Oct. 22, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a report containing U.S. traffic crash fatality statistics from 2018. The report brought some good news, including a promising 2.4% decrease in overall road fatalities between 2017 and 2018. Fatalities among children, al
- Author: Legal Examiner Staffer
- Tags: Transportation

On Oct. 22, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) [released a report containing U.S. traffic crash fatality statistics from 2018.](https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/roadway-fatalities-2018-fars?ref=legalexaminer.com) The report brought some good news, including a promising 2.4% decrease in overall road fatalities between 2017 and 2018\. Fatalities among children, alcohol-impaired fatalities, speeding-related fatalities and motorcyclist fatalities all declined as well. Despite these improvements, however, roads may actually be getting more deadly for one especially vulnerable group of commuters: pedestrians and cyclists.

The [NHTSA reported 6,283 pedestrian deaths in 2018, which is the highest number in 28 years](https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/roadway-fatalities-2018-fars?ref=legalexaminer.com). Overall, pedestrian fatalities have risen by over 50% since 2009\. There were 208 more pedestrian fatalities in 2018 than in 2017, marking a 3.4% increase; cyclists saw 51 more deaths, marking an even higher increase of 6.3%. On top of that, the report came just months after the Governors Highway Safety Association announced that [2018 was the deadliest year for pedestrians since 1990](https://www.ghsa.org/resources/news-releases/pedestrians19?ref=legalexaminer.com).

The NHTSA also observed some patterns regarding the circumstances of fatal pedestrian and cyclist accidents. [Half of cyclist fatalities and over three in four pedestrian fatalities occurred after dark](https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/roadway-fatalities-2018-fars?ref=legalexaminer.com). Alcohol was also a substantial contributing factor, with 38% of pedestrians and 26% of cyclists who lost their lives having alcohol in their systems. There are [several safety steps that can be taken to decrease the number of fatal pedestrian and cyclist accidents](https://q13fox.com/2019/10/23/pedestrian-and-cyclist-deaths-are-rising-even-as-overall-traffic-fatalities-are-on-the-decline/?ref=legalexaminer.com), including:

- Adding more street lighting
- Lowering speed limits on pedestrian and cyclist-heavy roads
- Adding concrete islands
- Giving pedestrians a head start in crosswalks
- Installing blinking-light crosswalks
- Improving pedestrian detection technology in new cars
- Making pedestrian detection technology a standard on all cars (instead of a luxury add-on)

Jake Fisher, the Senior Director of Auto Testing for Consumer Reports, referred to the [increase in pedestrian fatalities as “an epidemic of preventable deaths”](https://www.foxnews.com/auto/highway-deaths-pedestrian-fatalities-2018?ref=legalexaminer.com), noting the need “to double down to figure out how to achieve better pedestrian detection and more widespread adoption.”

**If you or a loved one is a victim of a pedestrian or cyclist crash, it is important to** [**seek help from an experienced auto accident personal injury lawyer**](https://www.nevadainjuries.com/?ref=legalexaminer.com) **as soon as possible.**