The Seattle Department of Transportation shared scores of collected statistics when it released its Traffic Report 2010, including information pertaining to pedestrians.
The report explains that in 2010, there were 529 accidents in Seattle involving pedestrians. To better understand just how much of a problem this is, compare that number to other types of collisions. In the same year, there were 366 bicycle accidents and 46 head-on collisions. People are getting “mowed down by cars on deadly Seattle streets in disproportionate numbers to any other group,” Crosscut Public Media states.
So what do the statistics tell us about pedestrian accidents and what is being done about it?
Seattle Pedestrian Accident Statistics
As mentioned, there were more than 500 pedestrian accidents in a single calendar year in the city. The risk of critical or fatal injuries is high with these types of accidents. The SDOT’s report explains that there were 19 traffic-related fatalities in 2010, and a whopping 26 percent of those were pedestrians. The year 2010 had the lowest number of pedestrian deaths in a single year since 2002 when there were also five.
Here are few other noteworthy pedestrian accident statistics contained in the report:
- Sixty-eight percent of pedestrian accidents occur at intersections.
- In nearly 15 percent of accidents, pedestrians are struck at intersections with signals.
- The age group involved in the pedestrian collisions was 25- to 34-year-olds.
- The prime time for pedestrian accidents in the city is between 2:00 and 6:00 p.m.
- Most collisions involve a car simply driving straight, followed by vehicles turning left.
- In most cases, weather was not a major factor for crashes. (Rather, driver or pedestrian negligence was.)
Major Contributing Factors in Pedestrian Accidents
Incomplete accident reporting makes it somewhat difficult to ascertain the extent of the causes behind pedestrian accidents.Some of the cited contributing factors – on the part of pedestrians and motorists – include:
- failure to grant right of way;
- inattention;
- being under the influence;
- disregarding traffic signal; and
- failure to use crosswalk.
As sad as it is, most of these accidents are completely preventable. They are mostly the result of driver or pedestrian negligence or error.
What’s Seattle doing about it?
There are already laws and regulations in place meant to keep everyone safe on the roads. Unfortunately, when drivers and pedestrians disregard the rules, it has potentially disastrous effects.
Increasing safety on the roads in Seattle boils down to enforcing the laws already in place. The city is hoping that traffic enforcement at key locations might "curb undesirable traffic behavior,” such as “speeding, aggressive driving, jaywalking and failure to yield the right of way.”
For instance, the police department has a program of pedestrian safety emphasis patrols, where they have an officer dressed as civilian acting like a pedestrian. Officials are attempting to enforce driver compliance with laws, and in 2010, they issued 48 citations as a result of those operations.
They also try to discourage pedestrians from doing dangerous actions such as jaywalking. In fact, they issued 1,570 citations for pedestrian infractions in 2010.
Contact Pedestrian Accident Attorney Max Meyers
For legal help regarding a pedestrian accident, contact pedestrian accident attorney Max Meyers for a free consultation. We help accident victims in and around Seattle pursue and secure compensation for their injuries. Call our office today at 425-399-7000 or to schedule your no-obligation case evaluation.