A lack of public education regarding pedestrian safety rules and laws. In the U.S., less than $1 is spent per person on bicycle and pedestrian education ( National Highway Institute).
An increase in the number of motor vehicles on our roadways and large (wide), high-speed roads.
An unfriendly pedestrian environment, including narrow sidewalks, sidewalks next to high-speed roads, no sidewalks, too few crosswalks, etc.
Speed. More than 80% of pedestrians hit by motor vehicles traveling 40-45 mph will die of their injuries, and half die when they are struck by vehicles traveling just 30 mph. 3% to 5% of pedestrians struck by cars traveling only 20 mph are killed.
Alcohol use by the driver or pedestrian.
Poor pedestrian behavior practiced by adults and parents.
Children learn pedestrian behavior by watching adults/parents. Adults need to practice proper pedestrian behavior and teach young children to do the same.
Inadequate adult supervision of children.
Overestimating a child’s ability to cross a street safely.
Young children have 1/3 less side-to-side vision than do adults.
Children are impulsive and unpredictable.
Children have difficulty judging distance and speed of an approaching vehicle.
Small children have a hard time seeing over bushes and other objects.
Children lack experience, judgment and safety skills.
Teen drivers. Of all pedestrians struck by cars, nearly one-fourth are hit by vehicles driven by teenage drivers.
Pedestrians taking chances when crossing the street at a mid-block location.
Pedestrians who enter the roadway from between parked vehicles.
