NHTSA established its 5-Star vehicle rating system in 1993 as a way to show people how safe a vehicle was before purchasing it. As cars improved over time, the 5-Star vehicle rating system did, too. In 2010, NHTSA introduced a list of recommended safety technologies for new vehicles. NHTSA and its 5-Star system have definitely helped make vehicles safer over the years - so why aren’t traffic fatalities decreasing?
One of the sharpest upticks we’ve seen in traffic collisions is the number of pedestrian fatalities. While more than half of the people involved in fatal collisions in 2021 were drivers, the next largest group were pedestrians at 17% percent. The number of pedestrians killed in 2021 (7,388 pedestrian deaths) was a 12.5% increase from 2020 (6,656 pedestrian deaths).
Why are pedestrian fatalities so high? Well, while new vehicles are generally safer for their occupants than older vehicles, they may be more dangerous for pedestrians. One of the reasons for this is that new vehicles are typically larger and heavier than older vehicles. They have more momentum in a crash, which can result in more serious injuries to pedestrians. SUVs are more likely to injure pedestrians than smaller cars.
Another factor is the design of new vehicles. Many new vehicles have higher front ends and larger front bumpers. These design features can make it more difficult for pedestrians to see over the vehicle, and can also raise the possibility of injuries in a collision.
This data inspired NHTSA to update their list of recommended safety technologies for new vehicles to include pedestrian automatic braking systems, lane-keeping support, blind spot detectors, and blind spot intervention. Let’s take a look at each of these safety features and how they can help reduce pedestrian fatalities.
Pedestrian Automatic Braking Systems
Pedestrian Automatic Braking Systems (PABS) are safety features that can help you avoid hitting pedestrians. They use sensors to detect pedestrians in front of your car and can automatically apply the brakes if you’re not reacting quickly enough, stopping your vehicle or at least slowing it down enough to minimize impact.
Lane-Keeping Support
Lane-keeping support systems use cameras to monitor the car’s position in its lane and gently steer the car back into the lane if it starts to drift out. These systems can help drivers avoid swerving and hitting pedestrians.
Blind Spot Detectors
Blind spot detectors use sensors to detect vehicles and other objects in a driver’s blind spots. When a vehicle is detected in a blind spot, the detector alerts the driver with a visual or audible warning. Some even have a haptic warning that causes your steering wheel to vibrate slightly. They can greatly reduce collisions while drivers change lanes.
Blind Spot Intervention
Blind spot intervention systems also detect vehicles and other objects in the driver’s blind spot, but they take it one step further. If the driver attempts to change lanes into the occupied blind spot, the system can apply corrective steering or braking to help prevent a collision.
What can drivers do to reduce pedestrian fatalities?
Drivers must do their part to decrease pedestrian fatalities as much as possible. Here are a few tips:
- Stop for pedestrians when they enter a crosswalk before the traffic light changes.
- Stop when a pedestrian is walking with a green light to a walking person symbol or to a walk symbol.
- Pay close attention and stop when a pedestrian is leaving or entering a street or highway from an alley, building, private road, or driveway.
- Stop for pedestrians on the sidewalk when entering or exiting an alley, driveway, or private road.
- Come to a full and complete stop at red lights and stop signs before entering the intersection. Don’t let any part of your vehicle hang over the stop line or crosswalk. Pedestrians need enough room to use the crosswalk. If your car blocks it, they may have to step into the street in order to cross.
- Always check for pedestrians before turning right at a red light.
You can’t count on pedestrians (or any other roadway user) to follow the law 100% of the time. You should always assume pedestrians are crossing when you see a car stopped at a crosswalk, even if you don’t see any pedestrians.
What can pedestrians do to be safer on the road?
Pedestrians are responsible for following traffic laws, too. Here are some tips for pedestrians:
- Stand on the curb, not in the street, when waiting for the signal to cross. When the signal changes to green or reads “Walk,†then you may step onto the street.
- Exit or enter a car from the curb side.
- Don’t text or wear headphones when you’re walking. If you do want to wear ear buds, only wear them in one ear so you can still hear everything happening around you.
- If you’re in an area without sidewalks, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic. Step off the pavement when you hear and see a car approaching.
As we know, drivers aren’t always paying attention to their surroundings. Stay alert and never just assume a car will stop for you. Only cross the street when it’s safe to do so.
New vehicles are not as safe for pedestrians as they could be. The automotive industry needs to do more to improve the pedestrian safety of new vehicles, and all roadway users also need to be aware of the risks and take steps to stay safe when crossing the street.
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