As walkable communities are becoming more and more popular, accidents involving pedestrians are also on the rise. Car manufacturers are taking steps to prevent collisions with pedestrians, which are a major safety concern here in Alabama.
A 2018 report by the Governors Highway Safety Association stated that Alabama ranks eighth highest in the country for pedestrian deaths.
There were an estimated 59 pedestrian deaths between January - June 2017 in Alabama. That's a rate of 1,021 per 100,000 people and the 8th highest rate in the country.
Pedestrians now account for roughly 16 percent of all motor vehicle deaths, the group said. That number was 11 percent just a few years ago.
What’s being done?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety set a goal of reducing pedestrian crashes in 2019 by rating automatic emergency braking systems that can detect and brake for people on foot.
Eleven small SUVs were evaluated and 9 earned an advanced or superior rating for pedestrian crash prevention.
A 2011 IIHS analysis of 2005–09 crash data estimated that pedestrian detection systems could potentially mitigate or prevent up to 65 percent of single-vehicle crashes with pedestrians in the three most common crash configurations and 58 percent of pedestrian deaths in these crashes if all vehicles were equipped with the systems.
Three scenarios tested
The scenarios used to test and rank the systems were:
- Adult pedestrian on the right side of the road entering the street in the path of an oncoming vehicle
- Child darting into the street from behind two parked vehicles
- Adult walking in the vehicle's travel lane near the edge of the road
Autobrake systems that detect pedestrians could greatly reduce deaths in Alabama due to crashes with pedestrians. According to the study, If a collision is imminent, the system typically alerts the driver and can apply the brakes far faster than a human could react. This technology has the potential to save lives.
The IIHS has conducted four crash avoidance evaluations since 2013, including front crash prevention systems, headlights, rear crash prevention systems and autobrake systems. Tested vehicles were ranked as Basic, Advanced or Superior in their ability to mitigate a crash with pedestrian dummies.
How they rate
Superior:
- 2018-19 Honda CR-V
- 2019 Subaru Forester
- 2019 Toyota RAV4
- 2019 Volvo XC40
Advanced:
- 2019 Chevrolet Equinox
- 2018-19 Hyundai Kona
- 2019 Kia Sportage
- 2018-19 Mazda CX-5
- 2019 Nissan Rogue
Basic:
- 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander
No credit:
- 2018-19 BMW X1
Attorney Dean Waite has the experience and expertise to help if you’ve been injured as a pedestrian. Contact our law office today to learn more about your rights.