A recent Baldwin Borough accident reinforces the common belief that auto versus pedestrian mishaps causing severe personal injury or death are increasing. In this case, the almost complete investigation reveals that pedestrian, not driver, error caused the tragedy.

This does not mean that the incidence of wrongful death in Pennsylvania or in this particular case is unrelated to the documented rise in auto-pedestrian events. PennDOT safety professionals are becoming more concerned. A telling statistic: While car versus pedestrian accidents represent less than 4 percent of reported crashes, they account for more than 11 percent of all traffic-related deaths.

2010 data displays that of 4,474 Pennsylvania accidents involving pedestrians, 148 of those walkers died. Curiously, almost one-half of these auto-pedestrian crashes took place in mid-block instead of at intersections. Does this indicate that drivers are more alert and aware of pedestrians at intersections than when driving at constant speed in between blocks? Possibly.

This data is disturbing since Allegheny County auto-pedestrian accidents declined in 2009, with the six pedestrian deaths reaching a 25-year low. 2010, however, recorded a 100 percent increase in walker deaths, up to 12. This still is an improvement over the average 23 annual pedestrian deaths in the county from 1985 to 1989.

Observers believe the historical drop in pedestrian deaths come from better road designs, improved lighting, diligent traffic enforcement and more sidewalks. Although this improved “walkability” may have helped keep pedestrians safer, the recent increase in car versus walker crashes involving personal injury are troubling.

It may not be just the increased traffic mixed with more joggers/walkers that is causing this result. The wildly popular iPods and other MP3 music devices–with the accompanying headphones–may be a poor safety combination. While not necessarily blowing out their eardrums with MP3 music and headphones, older pedestrians appear to be at higher risk of suffering injury from these accidents.

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, “Car-vs.-walker fatalities more than double from 2010 to now,” Jason Cato, March 8, 2012