Dallas’ High Number of Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents
Dallas, Texas is a great place to live. We have some of the lowest cost of living expenses in the nation (ranked as 10th lowest), coupled with some of the higher salaries in the nation. We are also one of the more “happy” cities, as cited by a recent poll. We have wonderful parks, an eclectic uptown and downtown, nightlife galore, and more restaurants and bars than you can shake a 24 oz. T-bone steak at. On the flip side, Dallas has also seen an increase in pedestrian-vs-vehicle accidents over the last 3 years. Roadways not particularly suited to pedestrian traffic coupled with the large amount of traffic that Dallas has come to be known-for makes for a sometimes lethal combination.
In 2011, there were 24 total pedestrian deaths caused by vehicles. In the first three months of 2012, there were 14 auto-pedestrian fatalities. The final numbers for 2013 are not in yet, but it appears we are on an upward trend. This is, unfortunately, not a positive trend. What are some of the reasons these numbers might be going up? One reason is that people are more distracted nowadays while driving…texting, looking at their phones, Facebooking, surfing the internet, even simply talking…all of these things can distract the driver from their one task: driving. In addition, pedestrians are not entirely innocent and are also distracted by the same “phone factors” the drivers are, but they aren’t operating a deadly weapon. The Dallas Police Department says that the blame for these accidents falls about fifty-fifty between drivers and pedestrians.
Speeding is another factor in these accidents. Have you ever been on 75 after 11 pm in the evening on the weekend? If so, you know that some Dallas drivers feel that they are part of NASCAR and Central Expressway is their personal racetrack.
What about bicycling? Surely that must be safer than being an exposed pedestrian? In 2010, there were 42 vehicle/bicyclist accident deaths in Texas. This number was the third highest in the nation only being surpassed by Florida and California.
So what can someone do to avoid these accidents? Be aware. Be safe. Follow traffic rules. If you’re driving, pay attention to your surroundings. If you’re walking or biking, double and triple check that it’s safe for you to cross the street. You must remind yourself that as a pedestrian, you are in much greater danger of serious injury or death. As a driver, you have a greater responsibility to avoid hazards—especially when we’re talking about people.
Category: In The News
