Pedestrian Safety Page
Resource
Pedestrian Safety
In 2023, 250 pedestrians were killed on North Carolina roads (Source: NCDOT Crash Facts).
A key strategy to the Safe Systems approach is to separate people in time and space. In this case, that means keeping pedestrians from sharing the same space at the same time as multi-ton motor vehicles.
Pedestrian Safety Infrastructure
Sidewalks
66% of fatal pedestrian/bicycle crashes on North Carolina roads occurred where no sidewalk was present (Source: NCDOT VRU Data Viewer).
Pedestrian Crossing Island
Nearly 3/4 (75%) of crashes where a pedestrian was seriously hurt or killed happened when they were crossing the street outside of intersections (2015 – 2019; NC Pedestrian Crash Types, HSRC).
Leading Pedestrian Intervals
Between 2015 – 2019, 86 pedestrians were killed by drivers turning at an intersection (2015 – 2019; NC Pedestrian Crash Types, HSRC).
Speed Kills
The faster a vehicle is traveling, the more severe injuries will be in a crash. This is especially true for pedestrians.
If a driver is traveling 32 mph and they hit someone walking, that pedestrian has a 75% chance of surviving. If that same person was hit at 42 mph, they only have a 50% chance of surviving.
Count People When You Travel
We are much more likely to see something if we’re actively looking for it. Play a little game before you travel by trying to guess how many people you will see walking. As you travel, count them and see if your guess was correct. Making this a habit will help you to pay attention and always look for pedestrians.
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the safest place to walk?
If there is a sidewalk, that is the safest place to walk. If there isn’t a sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far away from the road as possible.
Social Media Images
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