The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that higher vehicle speeds increased the chances of pedestrians being hit by automobiles. In addition, according to the CDC, higher speeds raised the likelihood of pedestrians suffering a severe injury if they are struck by a car or truck.
Vehicle speed aside, pedestrians are obviously at a decided disadvantage when involved in a traffic accident with a motor vehicle. Cars, trucks and even motorcycles offer their drivers and passengers far more protection than pedestrians have, while dishing out far more damage than your average man or woman on the street is capable of absorbing.
As a result of the disparity between motor vehicles and pedestrians, besides suffering severe injury, those on foot often do not survive run-ins with cars or trucks. In fact, according to the CDC, in 2010, there was an average of one traffic accident-related pedestrian death every two hours.
While walking on the Florida Turnpike, an 18-year-old Hialeah woman was killed in a collision with a vehicle, according to WTVJ-TV. The accident happened around 5 a.m. along the northbound lanes of the Turnpike near Griffin Road.
The woman was reportedly struck by a black Audi and pronounced dead at the scene. As of this report, this incident was still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
How Can Pedestrians Protect Themselves?
While pedestrians cannot control the actions of motor vehicles, especially when cars or trucks fly onto sidewalks, enter crosswalks or crash into buildings, according to the CDC, those on foot can still increase their chances of avoiding harm by:
- Walking on a sidewalk whenever possible, and when no sidewalk is available, walking facing traffic.
- Crossing roadways at designated crosswalks whenever they are available.
- Wearing bright-colored and/or reflective clothing and carrying a flashlight when walking at night to improve visibility to drivers.
Colson Hicks Eidson – Injury Attorneys
Source: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Fatal-Crash-Closes-Lanes-on-Floridas-Turnpike-270294291.html