More Americans these days want to stay physically active and do their part to cut down on carbon emissions. In many cases, walking instead of driving would seem to be the ideal way to achieve both goals at once. Unfortunately, our nation's infrastructure was not built with pedestrians in mind.
Here in Kentucky and across the United States, most city roadways were built only to suit automobile traffic. Accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists were usually added as an afterthought - if they were added at all. And because driving has been the dominant mode of transportation, many drivers are unaccustomed to sharing the road. They are not used to scanning intersections for the presence of pedestrians or stopping clear of crosswalks. As a result, pedestrian accidents continue to be a major hazard nationwide.
A consumer advocacy website called the Auto Insurance Center recently released its report on "The Worst Places to Be a Pedestrian." The report is based on 2014 fatality data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to the data, there were nearly 5,000 pedestrian deaths in 2014.
The good news for us is that Kentucky is not among the top 10 most dangerous states for pedestrians. But neither is our state among the 10 least dangerous. Although exact numbers are difficult to find, Kentucky appears to be on the higher end of pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 residents.
Further analysis of the data shows that the average age of pedestrians killed in Kentucky is 38.4 years old. In 2014, about 60 percent of pedestrians killed in our state were male, meaning that women accounted for 40 percent of victims.
While Kentucky is not among the worst places in the country to be a pedestrian, our state's statistics leave a lot of room for improvement. As you drive through Lexington or any other city, please be especially mindful of those who travel on foot. A little extra consideration and attention could literally save a life.