Smartphones and Marijuana Linked to Rise in Pedestrian Deaths

With all of the new features and technology manufacturers are adding to cars and trucks, driving a vehicle is getting safer than it ever was before. However, statistics for pedestrians aren’t quite as positive. The Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) recently released a study revealing that nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed in car accidents in the United States in 2017. This number is virtually the same as 2016, but pedestrian deaths are on the rise—increasing 27% from 2007, while all other traffic fatalities have decreased by 14%.

Searching for a culprit

In looking for reasons why pedestrian deaths are rising, the GHSA found two recent trends: an increase in smartphone use and the legalization of recreational marijuana in several states. Although the report didn’t find a definitive link between either of these factors and pedestrian fatalities, it noted a disconcerting correlation. Of course, both smartphones and marijuana do impair judgement and attention both on foot and behind the wheel.

The GHSA reported that smartphone use in the United States increased a whopping 236% from 2010 to 2016, and smartphone-related emergency room visits also increased. Smartphone use can be attributed to an uptick in distracted driving accidents—both with drivers and pedestrians at fault.

Another interesting and potentially alarming statistic is that the seven states that legalized recreational marijuana between 2012 and 2016 had a 16% increase in pedestrian fatalities for the first half of 2017 while all other states saw a combined 5.8% decrease. The states that legalized marijuana use were Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, as well as Washington, D.C.).

There are, of course, other possible reasons for the rise in pedestrian fatalities. One reason cited is poorly-designed headlights. Lights that fail to adapt to the curvature of the road have long been cited as an issue, as 75% of pedestrian deaths occur at night.

Improving pedestrian safety

The GHSA report also includes potential ways to improve pedestrian safety. These measures include: pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, islands to let pedestrians cross two-way streets one direction at a time, countdown pedestrian signals, high-visibility crosswalks, and improved street lighting.

“Two consecutive years of 6,000 pedestrian deaths is a red flag for all of us in the traffic safety community,” GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins said in a statement. “These high levels are no longer a blip but unfortunately a sustained trend. We can’t afford to let this be the new normal.”

If you were injured in a car accident by a drugged driver, the Sevierville car accident lawyers at Delius, McKenzie & McCarter, are ready and willing to help you. Give us a call at (865) 428-8780, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation today. We represent injury victims in and around Sevierville, Seymour, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge.