Increase in Intoxicated Pedestrian Accidents in Focus

With all of the anti-drunk driving campaigns, residents and visitors may be more likely to be involved in a pedestrian accident blamed on alcohol. While drunk driving campaigns are great in preventing drunk driving accidents, they only increase the risk of drunk walking accidents.According to Associated Press, there were more than 1,500 pedestrians who were legally drunk and the time of their fatal accident in 2011. This means that close to 40 percent of all of the pedestrians killed in 2011 were legally intoxicated. This is a new epidemic and we’re seeing an alarming increase in the risks. It’s a particularly important message as college classes resume.

Our Highland accident lawyers understand that there were nearly 100 pedestrians killed in the state of Indiana in 2011. These accidents accounted for close to 10 percent of all the traffic fatalities recorded during the year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is making prevention a priority. The agency recently announced a new set of tools to help communities fight to problem, allocated roughly $2 million in pedestrian safety grants and launched a new one-stop shop website with resources for community leaders as well as safety tips for residents.

“We all have a reason to support pedestrian safety, and now, everyone has new tools to help make a difference,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

The problem here is that alcohol can negatively affect a pedestrian’ judgment too, just as it would a driver’s. It can lead them to make poor decisions while traveling, like trying to beat a vehicle heading down the road, crossing against a traffic light or even crossing in the wrong place. Any one of these wrong decisions (among a multitude of other wrong decisions) can land you in the hospital or leave you for dead.

On average, a pedestrian was killed every two hours and injured every eight minutes in traffic accidents in the United States last year.

But it’s not just the pedestrians that have officials worried. They’re also seeing an increase in the number of intoxicated bicyclists who are injured or killed.

While you may think that walking home after a night of drinking is your safest bet, you might want to think again. Consider getting a cab or calling a friend or family member to come get you. Whatever you do, you want to stay away from moving traffic. It’s a move that could save your life.

Thanks to the AAA DUI Justice Link, that connection can be made. On this site, officials with the NHTSA created a listing of sober/safe ride programs across the country. Save a number in your phone, and you’re sure to have a save and sober ride home every time. more Call Attorney Burton A. Padove if you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, at (219) 836 2200 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. More Blog Entries: Speed: A Deadly Factor in Indiana Teen Driving Accidents, Indiana Injury and Family Lawyer Blog, July 30, 2013 Indiana Railroad Accident Claims Elderly Driver’s Life, Indiana Injury and Family Lawyer Blog, July 5, 2013