Pedestrians know they must pay special attention to their safety as drivers may not always see or pay attention to them.
While vehicle technologies advance and many focus on improving safety or preventing accidents, it seems that pedestrians have yet to benefit from these efforts.
Study highlights gaps in safety technologies
One AAA study focused on the effectiveness of pedestrian detection and automatic braking systems together. Noting that the majority of pedestrian fatalities occur at night, some tests were conducted in dark conditions. Unfortunately, the results were so poor that AAA deemed the safety technologies to be completely ineffective in these conditions. As the days continue to shorten, this reality raises new concerns for pedestrian safety in the coming months.
Tests conducted in daylight hours produced only slightly better results, the best of which found the adult pedestrian dummies hit by the test vehicles 60% of the time. In these scenarios, vehicles operated at 30 miles per hour with no visibility limitations and clear, daylight skies. Adult pedestrian dummies walked directly in front of the test vehicles.
Pedestrian deaths in New York
Records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that pedestrians face many challenges on the streets of New York. In 2018, the total number of people killed in automobile accidents statewide decreased from 1,006 the prior year to 943. However, the total number of pedestrians killed in 2018 increased from 246 the prior year to 262.
In 2017, pedestrians represented 24% of the state’s total vehicular fatalities. In 2018, pedestrians represented 28% of the state’s total vehicular fatalities.