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NTSB calls for new pedestrian safety measures


On behalf of Law Offices of Steven H. Dorne posted in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents on October 5, 2018.

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a series of recommendations to improve pedestrian safety here in the U.S. The board is alarmed by the fact that there is a 46 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities between 2009 and 2016. A total is 16 deaths per day added up to 5,987 in 2016. Moreover, pedestrian deaths make up approximately 21 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities.

Here in Maryland, there were 104 pedestrian deaths involving motor vehicles in 2016, which is 1.73 pedestrian deaths per 100,000. This is 29 percent higher than the national average.

Recommendations

The board made recommendations to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Highway Administration. Highlights include:

  • NHTSA: The board recommended design improvements for headlights and braking systems with pedestrian-detection in new cars. It also recommended softer and less lethal bumpers on vehicles.
  • FHA: The board asks the FHA to support local and state authorities to enact plans that address the unique needs of the communities they serve. This includes more sidewalks and medians, better lighting and layout of the roads, automatic speed enforcement and raising awareness of pedestrian safety.
  • CDCP: The board asks for the NHTSA and CDCP to develop a plan to integrate crash data and health data to create a national database of pedestrian fatalities and injuries.

Pedestrians and their families must protect themselves

The 46 percent increase in pedestrian deaths is a clear reminder that pedestrians must be more careful than ever around traffic. In light of the distracted driving epidemic that has seized our country, those on foot should assume that drivers would not notice them.

Unfortunately, improved safety will not eliminate pedestrian fatalities and injuries. Victims and their families can seek compensation with help of a personal injury attorney. They can help secure financial support for missed work, additional medical expenses and the mental trauma of these life-changing injuries.

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Steve H.Drone

Attorney Steven H. Dorne

Attorney Steven H. Dorne is an accomplished lawyer who practices in state and federal courts in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. He brings more than 30 years of experience and a long record of success to each case. His law practice is distinguished by careful preparation and thorough analysis of each case.

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