As a pedestrian, you face many dangers when you navigate Georgia’s roads. While crowded city streets can make walking perilous, sparsely populated rural routes can pose just as much of a threat. At Sams, Larkin & Huff, LLP we understand that pedestrian safety is important to you no matter what type of road you are traveling on.
Unfortunately, some recent statistics indicate that being a pedestrian in Georgia is becoming more dangerous. According to the Macon Telegraph, the number of pedestrian deaths in Georgia rose an alarming 21 percent in the period from 2014 to 2015. This stands in contrast to the national numbers, which rose only 10 percent in that same time period. The cause of this increase remains unclear, although many people are often quick to place blame on the victim.
Some experts contend that combatting this issue from all sides will lead to significant improvements that will make Georgia’s roads safer for you and other pedestrians. Such a multi-pronged approach would include:
- Efforts to better educate the public on pedestrian safety
- Identifying areas where the most improvement is needed
- Stronger enforcement of existing laws meant to protect pedestrians
- Ensuring that communities have the resources necessary to make improvements
- Improved road designs to make them more pedestrian-friendly
In addition, it has been found that pedestrian deaths can be reduced by employing emergency service personnel who are equipped to deal with the specific and often serious injuries associated with accidents involving pedestrians. For more information on collisions involving pedestrians, please visit our web page.
