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The state of Arizona is a great place and to explore the sights by walking. However, as a pedestrian, you need to take more caution as there were some shocking new statistics that have revealed how dangerous this state is when it comes to people on foot. Young adults and children are especially vulnerable to being the victim of a pedestrian accident. As a result, it’s up to their parents to teach them road safety tips as early as they can.
In reference to a report that was created by the Governors Highway Safety Association, the state of Arizona is the one with the highest rate of pedestrian deaths for each resident. This same report also indicated that the total number of pedestrian deaths increased from 11 percent up to 15 percent from the years of 2006 and 2015.
What this means is that pedestrians in this state are much more likely to be struck by a car than in any of the other states in the U.S. This also means that when a pedestrian accident or collision does occur, it is much more likely to result in a fatality.
Another organization that collects information on crashes in Arizona is the Arizona Department of Transportation. This includes the ones that involve a pedestrian. According to information from AZDOT, there were a total of 1,637 total accidents that involved pedestrians in the year 2016 alone, with 1,448 suffering injuries and 197 being killed.
Children are particularly at risk when they are walking. There are a number of reasons for this.
1. They don’t know traffic rules
One of the issues is that children aren’t aware of all the “rules of the road.” This is especially the case for younger children. Young kids may try to cross the street without even looking to make sure that there are no vehicles coming. They may also have a false sense of security if they are actually walking in a group. The fact is, groups are often distracting, and can result in children not paying attention to what is going on around them.
2. Children are usually small
Another factor that may prevent a child from seeing what is going on nearby is their height. Their size makes it more difficult for drivers to see them. If a vehicle happens to collide with a small child, the head, along with other sensitive areas of their body, may be particularly vulnerable to suffering an injury.
3. Walking is their main method of transportation
One of the main reasons children are commonly involved in a pedestrian accident is because walking is their primary form of getting from place to place. Because children aren’t able to drive, they often have to walk to school, to the park, or anywhere else they want to go.
It doesn’t matter if you are a child’s parent, a relative, the babysitter, a teacher or anyone else, it’s important that you explain all the rules of walking and the road rules in general before they head out. Make sure to walk with them through crosswalks, signs, traffic lights, and remind them how important it is to look both ways before they cross. It’s also a good idea for adults to be a good example when walking with a child. They can do this by:
When you are walking, it’s important for an adult to bend down to the child’s height. This will help you better understand what it is that they are seeing, as well as what they can’t see. It’s also a good idea to walk on roads that don’t have as much traffic and allow children to make smart decisions on how to be safe. This will help ensure they are safer on busier roads.
If your child is injured as a pedestrian, they likely have serious injuries. These types of injuries can reduce their overall quality of life, and it can be expensive to get the medical treatment that is needed. In some cases, you may be able to file a claim against the person who hit your child.
You should not try to do this on your own. If your child has been injured in a pedestrian accident, then it is a good idea to contact an attorney for help. Hastings & Hastings is here to help.