Pedestrian accidents
Pedestrian Accidents in West Hollywood Happen Too Frequently
Measures are being taken by citizens and government officials alike to make the streets and sidewalks of West Hollywood less dangerous to pedestrians. New street lights, traffic signals, and crosswalks are being added, which will help pedestrians cross the street more easily, and be seen while doing so. A colorful and upbeat public safety announcement video was uploaded to YouTube, and has collected more than 1.5 million views. The musical number highlights pedestrian safety, and the dangers those walking often face. This has helped greatly in raising awareness for pedestrians in the area, but has it been enough?Factors Involved in Pedestrian Injuries
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published the results of an in depth study that reveals startling numbers in respect to the frequency and fatality rates of pedestrian-involved car accidents. On average, there is a pedestrian injured by a vehicle once every two hours in the United States, and pedestrians are 150% more likely to die in once of these accidents than someone inside the vehicle. Children between the ages of 5 and 15 are the most common victims of fatal car crashes involving pedestrians, and nearly half of all fatal pedestrian accidents involve a driver that is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In addition to driver impairment, other common factors of pedestrian related car accidents are- Driving while using a cell phone
- Failing to stop at red lights and stop signs
- Exceeding the posted speed limit
- Falling asleep at the wheel
