Pedestrian accidents are a major concern in Nevada, as well as across the United States. In 2020 alone, Nevada saw 52 pedestrian fatalities, accounting for over 15% of all traffic deaths in the state that year. While pedestrian accidents can be caused by a number of factors, there are three main causes that lead to a high number of these preventable collisions: distracted driving, speeding, and failure to yield. Understanding the common causes behind pedestrian accidents can help bring awareness to this issue and prevent further tragic collisions.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the leading contributors to pedestrian-involved collisions in Nevada and nationwide. Driver inattention has been on the rise in recent years, largely due to an increase in smartphone use and other technological distractions inside vehicles. Distracted drivers are not fully aware of their surroundings and fail to notice pedestrians crossing the street or entering crosswalks.
Some common forms of distracted driving include:
- Texting or talking on a cell phone
- Adjusting the radio or GPS
- Eating, drinking or smoking while driving
- Talking to other passengers
- Daydreaming or being lost in thought
All of these distractions take the driver’s eyes and attention off the road. This makes it much harder to spot pedestrians and react in time to avoid a collision. Even just glancing down at a phone for a few seconds can be disastrous if a pedestrian walks into the road during that timeframe.
Distracted driving accidents frequently occur in busy urban areas where pedestrians are common. However, they can also happen on high-speed roads when a distracted driver fails to notice someone crossing or walking along the side. Reducing distractions behind the wheel is crucial for driver safety as well as pedestrian safety.
Public awareness campaigns and strict enforcement of distracted driving laws can help curb these dangerous behaviors. Driver education programs should emphasize the risks of distractions and teach drivers to put down devices and remain focused while driving. Manufacturers can also continue innovating new technology to make vehicles themselves less distracting overall.
Speeding
Higher vehicle speeds greatly increase the risks to pedestrians. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to spot hazards and pedestrians in time to brake and/or take evasive action. Additionally, higher speeds multiply the force of impact on a pedestrian, leading to more severe injuries in the event of a collision.
Some key facts about speeding and pedestrian safety:
- A pedestrian hit by a vehicle traveling over 30 mph is several times more likely to die compared to an impact at slower speeds.
- Over 50% of pedestrian collisions in Nevada happen on roads with speed limits above 35 mph.
- Drivers exceeding the speed limit cause a far higher percentage of pedestrian crashes compared to those driving at or below the limit.
- Speeding is frequently a factor in hit-and-run pedestrian collisions, as drivers traveling over the limit are more likely to flee the scene.
While Nevada has measures in place to curb speeding, it remains a significant road safety issue. Stricter enforcement and continued public awareness campaigns are essential to reduce speed-related pedestrian accidents across the state.
In addition to enforcement, infrastructure improvements can also help address speeding problems. This includes traffic calming measures like speed humps and traffic circles, narrowed lanes, and other physical design elements to encourage slower speeds. Where appropriate, reducing speed limits in areas with high pedestrian traffic may also be warranted.
Failure to Yield
Failure to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians is another top cause behind pedestrian collisions in Nevada. Drivers must allow pedestrians to safely cross roadways and intersections that are legally marked for pedestrian crossing. However, many collisions occur when motorists fail to properly yield, often because they are not paying full attention or disregard traffic laws pertaining to pedestrians.
Some common yielding violations include:
- Failing to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, both marked and unmarked. All intersections are legal crosswalks in Nevada, regardless of markings.
- Making a turn through a crosswalk without allowing pedestrians to cross first.
- Passing stopped vehicles at intersections without checking for pedestrian crossings.
- Failure to yield when backing up from driveways, alleys or parking spaces.
- Not heeding pedestrian crossing signals at intersections.
- Rolling through stop signs without looking for pedestrians.
Public awareness campaigns on safely sharing the road with pedestrians can help curb yielding violations. Additional law enforcement at high-risk intersections may also deter drivers from ignoring pedestrian right-of-way. Furthermore, improving pedestrian crossing infrastructure can make crossings more visible to drivers.
Targeted crosswalk enforcement operations, utilizing decoy pedestrians and police monitoring, is another strategy that has been effective for citation issuance. Highly visible decoys help identify motorists failing to yield at both marked and unmarked crossings.
Pedestrian Safety Tips
While driver behavior is a major factor in pedestrian collisions, pedestrians can also take steps to protect themselves:
- Cross at marked crosswalks and intersections whenever possible. Use pedestrian crossing signals if available.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing to ensure they see you.
- Avoid crossing between parked vehicles or other obstructed areas.
- Wear bright clothing during the day and use lights or reflective gear at night.
- Remain alert when walking near roadways by avoiding phone use and removing headphones.
- Follow pedestrian walking signs and signals where present instead of jaywalking.
- Avoid walking along highways or other high speed roads without pedestrian paths.
Parents and caregivers play a key role in teaching children proper walking safety and being role models. Holding hands, supervised crossing, and instilling pedestrian fundamentals from an early age helps ensure safe walking habits that can last a lifetime.
Pedestrian safety remains an ongoing concern for all road users in Nevada. By understanding the most common causes behind pedestrian collisions, we can work to promote safer driving and walking habits. Drivers should stay attentive and obey all traffic laws pertaining to pedestrians, while pedestrians can also take proactive measures to protect themselves.
Contact Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys
Our pedestrian injury lawyer Summerlin NV team is dedicated to helping pedestrians injured in collisions get the compensation they deserve. We handle cases involving distracted driving, speeding, failure to yield, and other causes. If you or a loved one has been injured as a pedestrian, contact our office at 800-4THE-WIN for a free consultation with a Summerlin pedestrian accident attorney today. Together, we can help build awareness around pedestrian safety and work to reduce these tragedies in our communities.
