A study conducted by the Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University found that men in New Jersey are more likely to be hit and killed by vehicles than women. The 2011 Pedestrian Safety Tracking Report also found that while young children were more likely to be hit by a car, they were less likely to suffer fatal injuries.
In looking at accidents in which pedestrians were injured or killed between 2003 and 2010, New Jersey counted 1,003 pedestrians fatally struck by vehicles and more than 40,000 injured. Most of the fatalities took place on state highways, and the lowest number occurred on municipal roads.
Men are more likely to be struck because they walk more at night, when the majority of the accidents occur. The higher incidence of fatalities on state roads can be attributed to higher speed limits. The faster a vehicle is travelling when it hits someone, the more damage the vehicle inflicts, and the higher the likelihood of catastrophic injuries.
New Jersey is taking measures to improve safety for pedestrians. One such measure is implementing a crosswalk law that requires vehicles to stop at crosswalks when pedestrians are present. New Jersey also has worked to educate its public with the enforcement of the crosswalk law. Police officers across the state have conducted stings where they pulled over motorists who failed to stop at crosswalks when pedestrians were still crossing the street.
In December 2009, the state also adopted the "complete streets policy." The policy requires safety features for everyone who uses the roads, including bicyclists and pedestrians, when road improvements are made. These additional safety features include sidewalk safety improvements and blinking safety lights.
Pedestrian accidents are among the most deadly of accidents. If a careless or inattentive driver injured you or a loved one, contact an experienced pedestrian injury attorney. An attorney can advise you on your rights and hold the responsible parties financially accountable.
