| Whether it’s walking in a neighborhood or to a store, at some point in the day, everyone is a pedestrian. That is why the Kansas Department of Transportation is participating in Pedestrian Safety Month in October, a traffic safety campaign created by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The goals of Pedestrian Safety Month are to increase awareness about pedestrian safety and remind all road users staying safe is a shared responsibility. In 2019, there were 6,237 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in the United States, accounting for 20% of all traffic fatalities. Vehicle safety for occupants has greatly improved. However, pedestrians and other vehicle nonoccupant fatalities have increased 4% from 2010 to 2019, demonstrating these individuals are still vulnerable as ever.
“A lack of safe crossings, sidewalks or separated paths creates potentially fatal interactions where the pedestrian doesn’t stand a chance against a vehicle,” says Jenny Kramer, KDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator. “Many Kansas communities have begun to build a comprehensive network of sidewalks/paths and crossings, but drivers should still look out and yield to pedestrians at all times, slow down at marked and unmarked crosswalks and follow the speed limit.”
Check out KDOT’s social media platforms throughout the month of October to learn more about pedestrian safety. For more information, visit the KDOT Bicycle & Pedestrian webpage at http://www.ksdot.org/burRail/bike/default.asp or contact Kramer at Jenny.Kramer@ks.gov. |
