CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A newly released report by the Governors Highway Safety association shows pedestrian deaths rose 77% in the U.S. between 2010 and 2022.
"On average, our autos are killing 20 pedestrians a day, nationally. So clearly, there's an issue there," Mark Ezzell, director of the N.C. Governor's Highway Safety Program, said on WCNC's Flashpoint.
Ezzell said public education, infrastructure design and policy changes are ways to reduce the fatalities. He says, despite technology, U.S. cars are heavier than in the past.
"We tend to have this need in the United States for very heavy, large weighty cars, things that other countries don't seem to have the same affinity for. And, so, when you're hit by a very weighty car, clearly that's going to be more dangerous than been hit by a small one," Ezzell said.
Infrastructure and speed limits also play important role in making pedestrians crashes, according to N.C. Department of Transportation.
"About 70% happen in locations where you've got the speed limit is greater than 35 miles per hour. So speed plays a very important role," Brian Murphy, N.C.D.O.T. Traffic Safety Engineer, said.
The new report shows a glimmer of hope on pedestrian crashes in the last year.
"The good news is, it's down in 2023, a bit from the all time high in 2022. But it's still not where it should be," Ezzell said.
Contact Ben Thompson at bthompson@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
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