According to Streetblog.org, there has been a 50% increase in pedestrian crashes since 2009. After two decades without a serious examination of pedestrian deaths by the National Transportation Safety Board, the organization recently completed an investigation and published initial recommendations:
1. State officials must focus on pedestrian planning
This includes budgeting appropriately, seeking resources and tools to prevent injuries, and addressing infrastructure issues. An August 2018 Gothamist article identified the 12 most dangerous areas for pedestrians and cyclists:
High-Risk Brooklyn Pedestrian/Cyclist Injury Zones:
- Williamsburg (Lee Avenue, North Seventh/Metropolitan Avenue, Berry Street and Bushwick Ave)
- Downtown Brooklyn (Atlantic Avenue, Willoughby Street, Boerum Place and Bond Street)
- Crown Heights/Bedford-Stuyvesant ( Pacific Street, Fulton Street, areas between Bedford and Brooklyn avenues)
High-Risk Bronx Pedestrian/Cyclist Injury Zones:
- Fordham/University Heights (Adueduct Ave, Ryer Ave, West Fordham Road, West Tremont Ave)
High-Risk Manhattan Pedestrian/Cyclist Injury Zones:
- Lower East Side/Little Italy & Soho (Delancey Street, Kenmare Street, Spring Street, Grand Street, Broadway and Forsyth Street).
High-Risk Queens Pedestrian/Cyclist Injury Zones:
- Corona (35th and Roosevelt Avenues, Between 94th to 10th Street)
- Jackson Heights (Between 37th and Broadway, 76th to 84th Street)
- Flushing (College Point Ave to Parsons Boulevard and 37th to Franklin Ave)
- Ridgewood (Woodward and Myrtle Avenues, Grove Street to Forest Ave)
- Jamaica (Between 89th and 90th Avenues, 164th Street to 168th Place).
High-Risk Staten Island Pedestrian/Cyclist Injury Zones:
- St.George/Tompkinsvlle (Jersey to Bay Streets, Between Victory Boulevard and Fort Place/Taft Ave).
- Stapleton (between Bay and Van Duzer Streets, Wright to Tompkins Streets)
2. Improve vehicle headlights
3. Improve quality of pedestrian injury data
4. Redesign vehicles
There is no doubt implementing the recommendations above could substantially reduce the number of pedestrians injured and killed by vehicles, but almost all will take a significant amount of time to put into play. Drivers should be aware of key behaviors that lead to crashes, like speeding and distracted driving.
If you or a loved one were hurt or killed in an accident, contact us today.
The skilled pedestrian accident lawyers at Jacoby and Meyers LLP are standing by to assist you today.