Most people understand that motor vehicles are dangerous to ride in, but they don’t always consider the broader safety implications of transportation. Cars also make life more dangerous for people who aren’t even in a vehicle.
Pedestrians can suffer life-altering injuries or die in crashes caused by people in motor vehicles, even when pedestrians do everything in their power to stay safe and follow the law. Unfortunately for those who are environmentally-conscious or fitness-inclined in Florida, they are at higher risk than the average person in the United States to suffer a pedestrian-related crash with a vehicle that claims their life.
Florida is one of the most dangerous states for pedestrians
Thousands of pedestrians die across the United States every year, but many of those deaths happen in a small number of states. Five states on their own are responsible for roughly half of all pedestrian deaths according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, and Florida is one of those five states.
In 2019, for example, there were 6,590 pedestrian deaths, which is close to 18 every day. That figure is the highest it has been in 30 years. In Florida, in just the first six months of 2019, there were 368 pedestrian deaths, which is a roughly 3% increase over the same period in 2018.
Florida shares the honor of having disproportionately high pedestrian accident rates with Arizona, California, Georgia and Texas. Combined, these five states contributed to 47% of all pedestrian fatalities.
What causes this increased risk in Florida?
Many factors could contribute to Florida’s rank among the worst states for pedestrians. Large numbers of tourists who may not watch for traffic could be one contributing factor. Active night scenes in many cities is another, as nighttime fatal crashes increased substantially more than daytime fatal crashes in recent years. Whatever the specific causes, pedestrians in Florida will have more risk than people walking in most other states.
It’s clear that pedestrians in Florida have more risk than pedestrians elsewhere. Knowing these risks can help motivate you to be more proactive about your own safety and about instilling safe walking habits in your children and loved ones. Still, pedestrians often get hurt because of the actions of drivers. When that happens, the people who get hurt or who lose a loved one may have the right to take legal action against the responsible party as a way to seek justice.