Approximately 557 pedestrians were killed in Orlando between 2000 and 2009, according to a new report released this week by Transportation for America. Rounding out the top four in the nation are three other Florida cities: Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami. Total number of pedestrian deaths in Florida during that time was 5,163.

More than 47,700 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. between 2000 and 2009, and the majority of those deaths were preventable, according to the report. Total number of pedestrian fatalities for Volusia County during that period was 171, according to the report.

The report, “Dangerous by Design 2011: Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths,” shows how roadway designs promoted by federal investment endanger people on foot.

Dangerous by Design also ranks America’s major metropolitan areas using a Pedestrian Danger Index that uses 10 years of data to assess how safe pedestrians are while walking. Other dangerous cities in the top 10 include: San Bernardino, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Memphis, Tennessee; Phoenix, Arizona; Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, Texas.

The report presents data on pedestrian fatalities and injuries in every U.S. county. And for the first time, this year’s report includes an online, interactive map showing the locations where pedestrian fatalities have occurred. Find that at t4america.org/resources/dangerousbydesign2011.

More than 688,000 pedestrians were injured over the decade, a number equivalent to a pedestrian being struck by a car or truck every 7 minutes.

The report finds that while only 1.5 percent of federal funds are allocated towards upgrading dangerous roads, 12 percent of all nationwide fatalities are pedestrians. Of these fatalities, nearly 4,000 were children 15 years and younger, making pedestrian injury the third leading cause of death by unintentional injury for that age group.

The majority of deaths occur on roadways that encourage speeding but do not provide the sidewalks, crosswalks, signals and other protections for people who are walking, the report finds. Most of these roads were built using federal transportation funds. The report comes as the federal transportation bill is being debated in Washington DC and calls to eliminate programs that can promote safer, more walkable streets have increased.

“Some in Congress have questioned the federal interest in keeping pedestrians safe, believing it to be a strictly local issue,” said James Corless, director of Transportation for America, in a press release. “But two-thirds of all pedestrian fatalities in the last 10 years occurred on federal-aid roadways.”

Dangerous by Design describes how communities across the country are beginning to reverse the legacy of 50 years of anti-pedestrian policies by retrofitting or building new roads as “complete streets” that are safer for walking and bicycling, as well as motorists.

“Dangerous by Design shines a spotlight on the dangers pedestrians – especially older Americans – face when they walk in unsafe crosswalks and along roads with little protection from fast-moving traffic,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President, in a press release. “With a rapidly aging population, AARP is renewing its call on Congress to pass ‘Complete Streets’ legislation, which will help ensure that our streets and sidewalks are safe for all Americans regardless of age or ability.”

Hispanics suffered an average pedestrian death rate 62 percent higher than that for non-Hispanic whites. Similarly, the average pedestrian death rate for African-Americans was 73 percent higher than for non-Hispanic whites. In addition, older Americans are over twice as likely to be killed while walking as those under 65 years of age.

Dangerous by Design outlines a roadmap for the future by which Congress can tackle the problems created by poorly designed transportation systems and create safer, more efficient cities for drivers and pedestrians alike. Of particular emphasis is developing transportation systems that take into account pedestrians and bicyclists, instead of viewing them as impediments to traffic.

“Investing to make our roads safer for pedestrians is not a frill, but an urgent matter of life and death in too many of our communities,” said Corless. “Federal programs that caused the dangerous roads to be built now must be reformed to help communities make them safer.”

Transportation for America’s recommendations for the next transportation bill to create safer streets include provisions to:

• Retain dedicated federal funding for pedestrians and bicyclists;
• Create complete networks of sidewalks, bicycle paths, and trails so that residents can travel safely throughout an area;
• Require federal, state, and local governments to set safety standards they must meet for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and motorists; and
• Hold states accountable for creating communities that are safe for walking.

For more on traffic safety issues, see the library of articles by Daytona Beach car accident attorney.

In the online edition of “Accident Analysis and Prevention,” the study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers, compared reaction times and perception of pedestrians as hazards between experienced elderly and non-elderly drivers.

The study was conducted in response to an increasing number of pedestrian-related accidents among elderly drivers. Drivers aged 65 and older are the fastest growing group in the Western world, with more elderly drivers than ever are on the road.

BGU researchers used two evaluation methods: driving in a traffic simulator while watching video of traffic scenes, and identifying hazardous situations by pressing a button.

The results of the video observation method showed that elderly drivers took longer to respond to pedestrian hazards. Approximately half of the pedestrian-related events presented in the videos were difficult for elderly drivers to perceive when compared with the non-elderly drivers.

The simulator drive test also revealed that the elderly performed “braking actions” half as often as the non-elderly group in response to pedestrians on sidewalks and shoulders.  However, the elderly group attempted to cope with hazards by reducing their driving speed by almost 20 percent, providing them more time to process the potential hazards and dangers, even if they couldn’t detect them.

“These findings strengthen the notion that elderly drivers, shown to have a narrower useful field of view (UFV), may also be limited in their ability to detect hazards, particularly when outside the center of their view,” said Tal Oron-Gilad a researcher in the BGU Department of Industrial Engineering, in a press release.

“Authorities should be aware of these limitations and increase elderly drivers’ awareness of pedestrians by posting traffic signs or dedicated lane marks that inform them of potential upcoming hazards,” said Oron-Gilad.

The research was conducted in BGU’s Human Factors Safety Lab, which features a 2008 Cadillac sedan and sophisticated simulation technology. The multidisciplinary lab recently developed one of the world’s only pedestrian simulation labs to conduct research on how pedestrians perceive and react to drive.
For more on traffic safety issues, see the library of articles by Daytona Beach car accident attorney.

The proposal, issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), would expand the required field of view for all passenger cars, pickup trucks, minivans, buses and low-speed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 10,000 pounds so that drivers can see directly behind the vehicle when the vehicle’s transmission is in reverse.

NHTSA believes automobile manufacturers will install rear mounted video cameras and in-vehicle displays to meet the proposed standards.  To meet the requirements of the proposed rule, 10 percent of new vehicles must comply by Sept. 2012, 40 percent by Sept. 2013 and 100 percent by Sept. 2014.

On average, 292 fatalities and 18,000 injuries occur each year as a result of back-over crashes involving all vehicles, according to the NHTSA. Approximately 44 percent of fatalities involving light vehicles are children under five.

To help prevent back-over injuries in Volusia County and elsewhere, the NHTSA recommends the following safety tips

■Teach children not to play in or around cars.

■Always walk around your vehicle and check the area around it before backing up.

■Teach children to move away from a vehicle when a driver gets in it or if the car is started.

■Have children in the area stand to the side of the driveway or sidewalk so you can see them as you are backing out of a driveway or parking space.

■Make sure to look behind you while backing up slowly in case a child dashes behind your vehicle unexpectedly.

■Take extra care if you drive a large vehicle because they are likely to have bigger blind zones. Roll down your windows while backing out of your driveway or parking space so that you’ll be able to hear what is happening outside of your vehicle.

■Teach your children to keep their toys and bikes out of the driveway.

■Many cars are equipped with detection devices like backup cameras or warning sounds, but they cannot take the place of you actively walking around your car to make sure your children are safely out of the way.  Do not rely solely on these devices to detect what’s behind your vehicle.

For more on child safety issues, see the Child Injury library articles by Daytona Beach child injury lawyer

The next time you are walking down a flight of stairs take a moment to notice what you are walking on.   Most staircases are made of concrete and metal.  If the staircase is exposed to the elements then the stairs are often painted.  Painted stairs are often slicker than their unpainted counterparts.  If there is any liquid on the stairs from rain or otherwise it is a recipe for disaster.   There is a gritty sand-like compound that is supposed to be mixed in with the paint prior to its application to the stairs.  If this is not done or done incorrectly the staircase becomes a hazardous condition that will likely result in serious injury or death depending on the fall. 

 So please buy shoes with soles that have good traction.  Always hold on to the handrails so you can catch yourself in the event of the fall.  But most of all please be aware of your surroundings so you prevent the fall.

Ron Zimmet Jr

I am a life long Central Florida Resident and I am pround to call Central Flordia Home.   I am a graduate of Floida State University and Stetson Law School.   I will post blogs here from time to time on the subject matter of my practice.   I hope anyone who reads these posts will enjoy them and be informed at the same time.