NHTSA Releases Goals for 2021 Pedestrian Safety Month
Photo: Edward Lich via Pixabay
Move over fall and Halloween, there is another reason why the month of October is important. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, October has the special distinction of being National Pedestrian Safety Month.
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The NHTSA says its goal for October and the campaign around pedestrian safety is: “to increase awareness around pedestrian safety and remind drivers to watch for pedestrians each and every time they are behind the wheel.”
Statistics
According to the NHTSA, in 2019, 6,205 pedestrians died as a result of a traffic crash.
“A pedestrian was killed every 85 minutes in traffic crashes in 2019,” reports the NHTSA.
National Pedestrian Safety Month outline
The agency has designated a theme or subject for each week of October.
Week one focused on the theme that everyone is a pedestrian.
“Whether it’s walking to your car, walking to the office, or walking for exercise, everyone deserves to get to their destination safely,” according to the NHTSA.
Drivers are reminded to pay extra caution when traveling near schools, in neighborhoods, and parks and to always be on the lookout for children and teens.
Week two was all about the importance of following speed limits.
“Slower speeds save lives. In fact, the chances of a pedestrian surviving a crash rapidly decrease when the vehicle speed is above 30 mph,” according to the NHTSA.
Week three will focus on innovative driver-assist technologies, such as pedestrian automatic emergency braking systems and rear backup cameras. It will also highlight how important it is for drivers to have high-quality headlights.
The last week of October will focus on safe roads.
“Roadways designed to safely accommodate road users provide a solid foundation for use of emerging vehicle technologies and actively encourage safe behaviors among drivers and other road users,” reports the NHTSA.
When behind the wheel, practice extra caution when pedestrians are present.
DeAnn Owens is a Dayton transplant by way of the Windy City, yet considers herself to be a California girl at heart even though she’s only visited there once. To get through the dreaded allergy season unique to the Miami Valley, she reads, writes, complains about the weather, and enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, and their newest addition, a Boston terrier puppy that is now in charge of all their lives. In the future, she hopes to write a novel and travel through time. See more articles by DeAnn.