GHSA INDICATES PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES ARE AT LARGEST SURGE IN 40 YEARS

Pedestrian accidents and fatalities across the United States increased 11% in 2016, the largest percentage rise in 40 years, says the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). The agency said that the statistics for 2016 will list nearly 6,000 pedestrian traffic fatalities, a total that “could make 2016 the first year in more than two decades with more than 6,000 pedestrian deaths.” GHSA said that the growing use of smart phones to access wireless data while walking and driving is a contributing factor, with more pedestrians who aren’t aware of the traffic around them. In an article written by Rick Stoff for Bus and Motorcoach News, Lancer Insurance Company vice president of safety and loss control, Bob Crescenzo, offered insight on some of the reasons for this pedestrian tragedy unfolding across the country. His observation was that over the past five years, pedestrian and bicycle accidents have accounted for only about 1.5% of frequency, or the number of claims. “But they are about 11% of our severity – the cost of claims,” he said. Lancer has investigated accidents involving pedestrians who stepped off sidewalks into the sides of stopped buses, and the company is also seeing increases in collisions involving bicyclists. “The other thing is the swing of the bus,” Crescenzo said. “Being aware of the rear swing on a turn is critical.” He also listed three issues bus and coach drivers must remember: The size and weight of the vehicle requires that additional time must be allotted for every driving maneuver; every professional driver should be trained to recognize that pedestrians often fail to yield to buses; and, the driver must anticipate if the coach will be able to complete a turn in a safe, timely manner. If there is any doubt about completing a turn, the driver should wait until the turn can be safely completed.