On monday, DOT announced new tools to help communities diminish the number of pedestrian deaths, which has been on the rise over the last two years. As part of the campaign, the Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has collaborated with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), to launch a new website, www.nhtsa.gov/everyoneisapedestrian, with safety tips, statistics and resources for local leaders, city planners, parents and others involved in improving pedestrian safety. These resources include information for parents and caregivers on teaching children about safe walking, reports on effective pedestrian projects for state highway safety offices and guides for community pedestrian safety advocates.
In addition to the website, NHTSA has announced $2 million in pedestrian safety grants available to cities where pedestrian deaths are greater than the national average. States have until Aug. 30 to apply for the grants, which may be used for education and enforcement initiatives in any of the 22 focus cities.
“We continue to see high rates of pedestrian fatalities in major cities and across every demographic,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “To help stop the recent increase in deaths and injuries, we need everyone to play a role in pedestrian safety. Working with partners on the federal, state, local and individual level, we hope to turn this concerning trend around.”
According to NHTSA data, 4,432 pedestrians were killed in traffic incidents in 2011 – an 8 percent increase since 2009. A breakdown of those numbers indicate that three out of four pedestrian deaths occurred in urban areas, 70 percent of those killed were at non-intersections and 70 percent of deaths occurred at night, many involving alcohol.
For more information, check out NHTSA's new website.