Some pedestrians walk almost everywhere for health reasons or to keep their personal costs low. Other people are only occasional pedestrians, such as when they want to stop at the ATM off the street before buying coffee somewhere.
Regardless of how frequently people find themselves sharing the road with motor vehicles as pedestrians in Missouri, they will want to make their safety their top priority. Any crash that occurs could very easily lead to broken bones, brain injuries and other serious medical consequences. Although those walking, running or jogging on or near public roads can’t control what motorists do, they can seek to control the three known risk factors below that contribute to a large number of pedestrian crashes.
Alcohol impairment
A significant portion of all fatal pedestrian crashes involve a pedestrian under the influence of alcohol, a driver under the influence of alcohol or both. While it is generally a smarter choice to walk rather than to drive after drinking too much, pedestrians should learn about how alcohol increases their risk of getting hurt on the road.
Timing
There may be more pedestrians crossing the road during the day in most areas, but the risk of a crash is lower when pedestrian activity is highest. The risk of a deadly crash is actually the worst during transitional times of day and after the sun sets. Even in areas with street lights, pedestrian fatalities tend to increase during the darker hours of the day.
Distraction and visibility issues
Some pedestrians might step out into traffic without checking for vehicles because they have their phones in their hands. Some drivers may fail to notice pedestrians because they are the distracted party. There are also many crashes that occur because pedestrians don’t cross the street at a location where drivers expect to encounter pedestrians and therefore are not looking for them.
Those who have to share the road with motor vehicles can improve their chances of doing so safely by staying sober, avoiding distraction and being careful about when and where they walk on the road. Learning about and avoiding risk factors for deadly pedestrian crashes can help people make walking around town less of a personal risk.
