USDOT warns of dangers to pedestrians

[cpzilliacus]

L.A. Times:  Department of Transportation warns of dangers to pedestrians

After decades of fewer pedestrians being killed in traffic crashes, the number has risen in the past several years, leading the Department of Transportation to warn of the dangers of walking while on drugs, drinking alcohol, or using a cellphone.

Alcohol was involved in 48% of traffic crashes resulting in pedestrian fatalities — 37% of pedestrians had a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit, compared with 13% of drivers involved in crashes. Most deaths (70%) occurred at night.

[briantroutman]

While "distracted walking" may certainly be a factor, Is it possible that the uptick in pedestrian deaths is tied to an increase in total pedestrian miles walked–particularly in cities? If we are, as some predict, beyond "peak car" and the populace will continue to become more urban and less auto-centric into the future, it would be only natural that the number of pedestrian deaths would tend to increase–even though the deaths per mile walked may be level or dropping.

37% of pedestrians had a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit, compared with 13% of drivers involved in crashes.

This percentage is pretty close to the number of bicyclists killed in accidents where the rider was over the limit. So we are to conclude that people who get DUIs and lose their licensees are still just as irresponsible–but now they're on a bike or on foot and more a danger to themselves than others?

[cpzilliacus]

While "distracted walking" may certainly be a factor, Is it possible that the uptick in pedestrian deaths is tied to an increase in total pedestrian miles walked–particularly in cities? If we are, as some predict, beyond "peak car" and the populace will continue to become more urban and less auto-centric into the future, it would be only natural that the number of pedestrian deaths would tend to increase–even though the deaths per mile walked may be level or dropping.

I am personally not at all convinced about "peak car," nor that everyone wants to live in a dense urban area.

37% of pedestrians had a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit, compared with 13% of drivers involved in crashes.

This percentage is pretty close to the number of bicyclists killed in accidents where the rider was over the limit. So we are to conclude that people who get DUIs and lose their licensees are still just as irresponsible–but now they're on a bike or on foot and more a danger to themselves than others?

I am of the opinion that "biking while drunk" is a crime (if someone rides drunk on roads or trails open to the public) and should be treated that way.

Drunk pedestrians are a huge danger - mostly to themselves, but also to others in terms of the cost of treating their injuries and (unfortunately) investigating their deaths.  I think that law enforcement can (and should) use laws against being drunk in public to deal with persons who walk around while catastrophically drunk. I saw the tragic results of this myself some years ago.  Two drunk people made their way out onto a nearby road (55 MPH, functional class expressway) and crossed the expressway at a signalized intersection (against the light) and were struck by a driver who was sober and driving at the speed limit.  Injuries were fatal.