Rising Number of , Pedestrian Deaths, Signals Alarming Trend.<br />NBC reports that in 2020, the United States <br />had the highest number of pedestrian <br />fatalities in nearly 40 years.<br />NBC reports that in 2020, the United States <br />had the highest number of pedestrian <br />fatalities in nearly 40 years.<br />According to the Governors Highway <br />Safety Association, pedestrian deaths <br />have skyrocketed by 77% since 2010.<br />The report found that approximately <br />20 people in the U.S. die every <br />day while walking in the street.<br />According to road safety experts, several<br />factors have contributed to the alarming trend.<br />Those factors include an increase in reckless <br />driving since the pandemic, more large vehicles on <br />the road and infrastructure not suited to pedestrians.<br />It has been getting worse every year. <br />We’ve focused so much on making vehicles <br />safer for the people inside, but we’ve sort <br />of lost track of what we are doing for <br />the folks outside vehicles to <br />really address their safety, Pam Shadel Fischer, Senior director of external engagement at the Governors Highway Safety Association, via NBC.<br />NBC reports that the pandemic saw <br />an increase in recklessness like <br />speeding and texting while driving.<br />In 2021, the report found that <br />drivers were speeding in 8% <br />of pedestrian deaths.<br />According to a Traffic Safety Administration <br />report, 3,522 people were killed <br />by distracted drivers in 2021.<br />The GHSA report also found that 69% of pedestrian fatalities <br />occurred on roads that lacked sidewalks in 2021, pointing to <br />outdated infrastructure unfit for increasing suburban populations
