More cyclists and pedestrians dying on U.S. roads

All across the nation, people look for ways to stay healthy and be active. Riding a bike, walking and running are common forms of exercise that continue to grow in popularity. Unfortunately, it seems that the choice to engage in these activities meant to improve a person’s health may actually put people in harm’s way. Data recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that the number of cyclists and pedestrians being killed by vehicles is on the rise.

According to The Verge, the number of bike riders killed in vehicle accidents in 2018 jumped by 6.3% over the previous year. Pedestrian deaths rose by 3.4% in the same time period. While deaths among people on bikes or on foot increased in 2018, the number of overall traffic fatalities decreased, highlighting the serious problem faced by bicyclists and pedestrians.

The growing number of foot and bike traffic fatalities also comes at a time when more new vehicles include safety features designed to prevent these accidents. Some AAA studies, however, found that these vehicle safety features have a long way to go before they can be considered effective. Vehicles with both pedestrian detection and automatic braking systems failed to avoid hitting dummy pedestrians in 60% of test cases, even in the daytime and at low speeds.

If you would like to learn more about your rights and how to protect yourself or a loved one after an accident caused by a negligent driver, please feel free to visit the pedestrian and bicyclist’s compensation page of our North Carolina personal injury website.