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Hit and run
https://www.wsj.com/articles/hit-and...ork-1524735001
Hit-and-run crash deaths are rising nationwide, and pedestrians and bicyclists account for close to 70% of the victims, according to a new report, as more people cycle to work and motor-vehicle fatalities are at a near-decade-high level. The number of hit-and-run fatalities jumped 61% from 2009 to 2016, the most recent year for which data are available, according to the report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. About 68% of fatal hit-and-run victims in 2016 were pedestrians or cyclists, compared with 61% a decade earlier, according to federal data cited in the report. In 2016, 1,980 fatal hit-and-run crashes across the U.S. resulted in 2,049 deaths—both record highs in the roughly four decades that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has tracked such data, the report said. “On the one hand, these statistics are a bit deflating. On the other hand, we can hope they serve as a wake-up call,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy and research. A big reason for the rise in fatal hit-and-run crashes is that deadly car crashes are up overall, the foundation said. Traffic-related fatalities surpassed 40,000 last year, the second year in a row, according to the National Safety Council. Mr. Nelson said one possible reason those deaths have risen is growing distraction in the smartphone era. A recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association said texting by drivers and pedestrians alike may help explain why pedestrian deaths have hit their highest levels in decades. Another potential factor Mr. Nelson cited is the push by public health officials to encourage people to walk and bike more. The downside, he said, is those activities make people more vulnerable in the event of a crash involving a car or truck. On the RiseNumber of fatalities from hit-and-run crashesby typeSource: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety ..fatalitiesDriverPassengerPedestrianBicyclistOthe r/Unknown type2006’08’10’12’14’1602505007501,0001,2501,5001, 7502,0002,250Bicyclist x2007x126 fatalities The number of bike commuters nationwide has ebbed in recent years, but rose nearly 40% from 2006 to 2016, when 864,000 rode to work, according to the Census Bureau. To improve safety, he said, pedestrians and cyclists need physical barriers like protected bike lanes—an idea gaining popularity around the U.S. but also causing fights in some places over reduced parking or travel lanes. The AAA report says state legislatures are cracking down on hit-and-run drivers. In every state it is illegal for a driver involved in a crash to flee. Over the past five years, more than a dozen states have passed new laws typically boosting jail time, fines and the length of a driver’s license suspension. But the report said researchers have found legal sanctions don’t appear to have a deterrent effect. Mr. Nelson said motorists should know that staying at the scene isn’t only the law, it can help ensure victims get prompt medical care. The ultimate aim is to prevent crashes, he said, and his message for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists is: “Just pay attention, open your eyes, keep your head up and focus on what you’re doing.” |
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#2
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Hit and run
On 4/26/2018 8:59 AM, somebody wrote:
“On the one hand, these statistics are a bit deflating. On the other hand, we can hope they serve as a wake-up call,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy and research.... To improve safety, he said, pedestrians and cyclists need physical barriers like protected bike lanes—an idea gaining popularity around the U.S. but also causing fights in some places over reduced parking or travel lanes. This propaganda pushing barriers and segregated facilities is bull****. Columbus, Ohio caved in to the propaganda and installed a "protected" bike lane on Summit Street in 2016. Car bike crashes jumped from about 1.5 per year without "protection" to over 11 per year with "protection." Of course, the crashes all happened where the cars' paths crossed the bike lane. That's where these facilities generate complication and surprises for both motorists and cyclists. Some protection! -- - Frank Krygowski |
#3
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Hit and run
On Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 9:04:19 AM UTC-7, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 4/26/2018 8:59 AM, somebody wrote: “On the one hand, these statistics are a bit deflating. On the other hand, we can hope they serve as a wake-up call,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy and research.... To improve safety, he said, pedestrians and cyclists need physical barriers like protected bike lanes—an idea gaining popularity around the U.S. but also causing fights in some places over reduced parking or travel lanes. This propaganda pushing barriers and segregated facilities is bull****. Columbus, Ohio caved in to the propaganda and installed a "protected" bike lane on Summit Street in 2016. Car bike crashes jumped from about 1.5 per year without "protection" to over 11 per year with "protection." Of course, the crashes all happened where the cars' paths crossed the bike lane. That's where these facilities generate complication and surprises for both motorists and cyclists. Some protection! Well, it's hit and run statistics -- which doesn't say much about "hit and stay" or the usual accident where the participants remain at the scene. Really, the increased numbers tells us more about the frequency of bad behavior following an accident rather than the frequency bike/car accidents. It also says "car crashes" are up overall -- is that car versus bike? It's really a weird article. -- Jay Beattie. |
#4
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Hit and run
On 4/26/2018 2:02 PM, jbeattie wrote:
On Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 9:04:19 AM UTC-7, Frank Krygowski wrote: On 4/26/2018 8:59 AM, somebody wrote: “On the one hand, these statistics are a bit deflating. On the other hand, we can hope they serve as a wake-up call,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy and research.... To improve safety, he said, pedestrians and cyclists need physical barriers like protected bike lanes—an idea gaining popularity around the U.S. but also causing fights in some places over reduced parking or travel lanes. This propaganda pushing barriers and segregated facilities is bull****. Columbus, Ohio caved in to the propaganda and installed a "protected" bike lane on Summit Street in 2016. Car bike crashes jumped from about 1.5 per year without "protection" to over 11 per year with "protection." Of course, the crashes all happened where the cars' paths crossed the bike lane. That's where these facilities generate complication and surprises for both motorists and cyclists. Some protection! Well, it's hit and run statistics -- which doesn't say much about "hit and stay" or the usual accident where the participants remain at the scene. Really, the increased numbers tells us more about the frequency of bad behavior following an accident rather than the frequency bike/car accidents. It also says "car crashes" are up overall -- is that car versus bike? It's really a weird article. Actually, my point had nothing to do with whether the crashes were hit and run or not. I was addressing "to be safe we need barriers." That meme is far too widespread. Columbus saw FAR more crashes after installing barriers. Therefore, "barriers give safety" is nonsense. And BTW, the article documenting this covered one year, but the next year had about the same number of crashes. But the data is being ignored. https://www.dot.state.oh.us/engineer...oorhead_82.pdf -- - Frank Krygowski |
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