July 12, 2023 - By Mark Moran - Producer-Editor, Contact - News
Big Sky Connection - The number of pedestrian fatalities in the United States is growing, according to a new report from the Governor's Highway Safety Association. The rate went down in Montana and efforts are underway to improve pedestrian safety nationwide, but some advocates say what's being done is not enough. Comments from Beth Osborne, vice president for transportation and thriving communities, Smart Growth America.
Click on the image above for the audio. - The number of pedestrian deaths in Montana fell from 24 to 22 between 2021 and 2022, according to the Governor's Highway Safety Association. (Adobe Stock)
State's deaths decline despite an increase nationwide
Mark Moran
July 12, 2023 - While the numbers are down slightly in Montana, more than 7,500 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. last year, a 40-year high.
A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association is renewing calls to transform transportation systems in ways to keep people safe. While the issue has caught the attention of law enforcement and policymakers, the report said the upward trend is still a major issue with pedestrian fatalities increasing by nearly 80 % since 2010.
Beth Osborne, vice president of transportation and thriving communities for the group Smart Growth America, said the U.S. still has not fully realized the dangerous effects of the interstate highway system.
"We have taken this very high-speed traffic and put it through places where a driver would need a lot more time to avoid conflict," Osborne pointed out.
With the growing size of trucks and SUVs, groups such as Osborne's have been pressuring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to do more to prioritize pedestrian safety as it updates vehicle safety ratings.
In Montana, a focus on bicycle and pedestrian safety has helped reduce the number of pedestrians killed from 24 in 2021 to 22 last year. Lawmakers recently considered a transportation bill with a number of related provisions, including requiring schools to teach bicycle and pedestrian safety, but the measures did not pass.
Other western states have made improvements, too. Osborne credits Washington state for adopting a law which keeps safety and accessibility in mind for certain road projects.
"They must design any project that costs more than $500,000 as a complete street," Osborne explained. "A roadway built and designed and maintained and operated for all users of the system."
Osborne urged cities and towns to incorporate safety improvements under their authority and to push policymakers at the state and federal levels to consider changes for roads under those jurisdictions.
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