The New York State County Highway Superintendents Association (NYSCHSA) is joining with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in recognizing October as Pedestrian Safety Month.
“While highway workers are rightly seen by the public as the men and women who are out fixing the roads and bridges, there is a whole other aspect to local transportation projects, and that is a focus on vehicle and pedestrian safety,” noted Todd M. Gadd, P.E., President of NYSCHSA and Wyoming County Highway Superintendent. “Our highway department professionals, along with affiliate contractors, planners and engineers are always looking to incorporate pedestrian safety features into our project designs wherever possible.”
Analysis of crash data collected for the New York State Pedestrian Safety Action Plan determined that an average of 300 pedestrians are killed and 15,000 injured by motor vehicles in New York State each year, and more than 25 percent of motor-vehicle-related fatalities are pedestrians.
“A vast majority, sixty-one percent, of the contributing factors to these crashes were related to driver actions, including driver inattention and failure to yield right of way,” Mr. Gadd reported. “But the top two pedestrian actions that contributed to crashes were pedestrian error and pedestrian failure to yield right of way, both factors highway planners may be able to do something about,” he said.
To reduce pedestrian injuries and fatalities, the NHTSA recommends a three-pronged approach of engineering, education, and enforcement. New York’s pedestrian safety plan is a five-year, multi-agency initiative that provides $110 million to improve safety for pedestrians through infrastructure improvements, public education efforts and enforcement.
Pedestrians are one of the most at-risk groups of roadway users. While they account for only three percent of all Americans involved in traffic crashes, they represent 14 percent of all traffic fatalities.
“Motorist and pedestrian behaviors are improving as many safety features are now being built into road projects and as modifications are made to existing problem areas and intersections,” Mr. Gadd said. “The addition of sidewalks, modifications to lane widths and shoulders, strategically placed barriers as well as the installation of warning signage (some solar powered) all have a positive impact on safety. Even simply restriping an intersection and adding a crosswalk goes a long way to clearly identifying the safest areas to walk along or cross a roadway,” Mr. Gadd explained.
Consistent enforcement of the traffic codes and statutes related to crosswalks gives credibility to the laws, reinforcing their importance among drivers and pedestrians.
NYSCHSA members are pedestrian safety conscious and proud to be on the frontlines in deploying features and technologies that advance the cause of safer streets. The Association supports funding opportunities at the local, state, and national levels to help cover the costs of incorporating pedestrian safety enhancements into more road projects.
“As the public demands better walkable communities and safer streets, especially for children and older citizens, Pedestrian Safety Month is the perfect time to remind ourselves to make every effort to secure the safety of everyone who desires to be out-and-about in their neighborhoods,” Mr. Gadd concluded.
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