In 2022, the number of pedestrians killed in auto accidents crossed 7,500, the highest on record in 40 years. This is a tragic statistic that demonstrates a problem that is without an easy solution.
The rising number of pedestrian deaths has been a source of concern for transportation safety advocates and pedestrian groups across the country. However, the actual state of pedestrian safety may be even worse than earlier believed. The Governors Highway Safety Association recently released its estimates of the total number of pedestrian fatalities in 2022, and the numbers are staggering. The Governors Highway Safety Association believes that a total of 7,508 pedestrians were killed in car accidents last year, the highest number on record since 1981. That year, a total of 7,837 pedestrians were killed in auto accidents. The total for 2022 are very likely even be higher because final estimates were not provided by the state of Oklahoma.
Most states recorded an increase in car accident fatalities in 2022, including Georgia, where a total of 335 pedestrians were killed in auto accidents in 2022. That was an increase of 14 deaths from the 321 pedestrians killed in auto accidents in 2021. The jump in pedestrian accidents in 2022 is even more concerning because it marks a 77% increase since 2010, while the jump in car accident fatalities over all has been just 25% since 2010.
The figures for 2022 means approximately 20 people were killed in the United States every day walking to work or for recreation or for exercise last year. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, it is unacceptable that we have such high pedestrian accident numbers considering that we do understand and are aware of the many strategies that can be used to prevent these accidents. Better planning of communities, for instance, that makes it safe for pedestrians to walk needs to be a part of every urban plan, but is often not.
Safer vehicles that help identify and avoid pedestrians in the path of the vehicle can also help reduce the risk of these accidents. Lower speed limits in many urban centers would definitely help reduce the risk of auto accidents that can seriously injure or kill pedestrians, but most traffic management programs tend to neglect the impact of these strategies on pedestrians and focus instead on facilitating high speeds and the convenience of motorists with often devastating results.
The Atlanta car crash attorneys at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons injured in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to a lawyer at our firm and determine if you have legal options to a claim for damages. You may be eligible for compensation that includes medical expenses, lost income and other types of damages. Talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your case.