The problem of pedestrians being killed or seriously injured on California roadways is bad and growing worse.
Most people think that car drivers are usually at fault in pedestrian crashes, but the crash reports show that pedestrian mistakes account for nearly as many crashes as do drivers. There are more people out walking – to get to work, school and shopping or just for fun, exercise, and being outside. In an era where we are promoting walking as a healthy, positive, and community building alternative to driving, walking is becoming increasingly dangerous. The Office of Traffic Safety and the Roseville Police Department wants to bring awareness to the California public about the dangers pedestrians face so that injuries and fatalities can be reduced on roadways.
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2016: 867 pedestrians were killed on California roadways, an almost 6 percent increase from 2015.
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2016: More than 14,000 pedestrians injured.
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Pedestrian deaths rose 32.8 percent between 2012 and 2016.
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Nearly 8,000 people died in pedestrian-related traffic incidents in California between 2006 and 2016.
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California’s pedestrian fatality rate is almost 30 percent higher than the national average.
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No state has more pedestrian deaths on its roadways than California.
It’s a two-way street. Drivers and pedestrians must work together to demonstrate safe behaviors on the road, helping to protect themselves and those around them.
Safety tips for pedestrians:
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Make yourself visible: wear bright colored clothes and carry a flashlight if you are walking at night.
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Avoid dangerous behaviors: always walk on the sidewalk (no jaywalking), stay sober and make eye contact with drivers – don’t assume the driver can see you.
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Stay off your phones, talking and especially texting distracts you from paying attention to your surroundings.
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Look before you step: cross streets at marked crosswalks/intersections, obey traffic signals and watch for turning vehicles.
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Look left-right-left before crossing a street.
Safety tips for drivers:
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Don’t speed, follow the speed limit and never use your phone; always be cautious of your surroundings.
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Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
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Look out for pedestrians, especially in hard-to-see conditions such as at night or in bad weather.
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Pedestrians have the right of way at any crosswalk or intersection, so yield and be prepared to stop.
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Stop at the crosswalk stop line to give drivers in other lanes an opportunity to see and yield to pedestrians too.
Be cautious when backing up – pedestrians, especially young children, can move across your path.