In the last decade, the number of pedestrians that have been struck and killed by motor vehicles increased by 45%. A total of 53,435 people were struck and killed, with the last four years being the most deadly. These tragedies are almost entirely a direct result of poor design of metro areas such as those in Minnesota.
Pedestrian safety left out of road design to keep traffic moving
Road design has been focused on keeping traffic moving and avoiding delays without taking into consideration the safety of pedestrians. In many metro areas, crosswalks are too far apart or missing entirely, and lanes are too wide making it difficult to cross in a timely manner. In some areas, the distance to cross can be upwards of 300 feet, and where there are crosswalks in place, they do not provide enough time for older people to get across safely. Turning lanes are being designed to be wider so that vehicles can make right turns at high speeds, completely ignoring the safety of crosswalks.
Combine all this with the fact that these roads are designed for speeds as high as 50 mph, and you have recipe for disaster. The speed at which a pedestrian is hit by a motor vehicle can be the determining factor between life or death. There is no question that improvements need to be made, funding made available, and policies changed to address this public health crisis involving motor vehicle accidents and pedestrians.
Any traffic death is a tragedy
Multiple lives are destroyed with every traffic death. If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed due to being struck by a vehicle, it may be wise to consult an attorney that specializes in motor vehicle accidents about the potential for compensation.