Pedestrian death rate expected to increase: study
Atlanta – The rate of pedestrians being killed by motor vehicles is expected to increase as the U.S. population continues to age and become more racially diversified, according to a new study (.pdf file) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers analyzed rates of motor vehicle-related pedestrian fatalities in the National Vital Statistics System between 2001 and 2010 and found that a total of 47,392 pedestrians died from motor vehicle crashes during that time, an annual rate of 1.58 deaths per 100,000 population. Pedestrians 75 or older had the highest fatality rates. Additionally, non-white populations tended to have higher rates of pedestrian deaths, with American Indian/Alaska Native pedestrians having the highest rates among all tracked races and ethnicities.
Researchers cited U.S. Census Bureau data that projects the proportions of older citizens and minority populations will significantly increase by 2040.
The study was published online April 19 in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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