Pedestrian Death Rates in Florida Continues to Rise
Tampa Bay Data Shows Pedestrians Are Increasingly At Risk
Walking is good for you and it helps reduce carbon emissions. Unfortunately, it can also cost you your life if a distracted driver runs you over. Drivers are distracted by kids playing in the back seat, changing radio stations, putting on make-up and even by wiping up the mess made from trying to keep on the road while unwrapping a hamburger.
But the alarming increase in pedestrian deaths in recent years has a lot to do with drivers being distracted by technology, especially smart phones. Most drivers see no problem reading a text while driving or worse, responding to one. Perhaps you know someone who steals a peek at their favorite social media page while driving or perhaps their kids’ most recent Snapchat creation. These activities have become a normal part of our drive time. The results are that pedestrian deaths across the United States have reached a 28 year high.
Tampa Bay is among the worst cities in the country for pedestrian deaths. Over the past ten years there’s been approximately 900 deaths and many more serious injuries. Time and money are being spent by local governments to reduce the statistics by implementing various safety measures on the road and increasing public awareness of the problem. But one of your best precautions may be taking matters into your own hands by staying hyperaware while you’re walking near a roadway, which may require putting away the smart phone and/or taking off the headphones.