August 2024 Back to School

A AAA study found that the risk of severe injury for a pedestrian hit by a vehicle is about 25% at 23 mph, and jumps to 50% at 31 mph. A 25% increase in risk from a difference of only 8 mph.

As students return to school, school zones and surrounding neighborhoods can expect to see increased pedestrian traffic from students traveling to and from school, whether walking, biking, skating, or riding in a car or bus. Educating children young to look both ways, cross in the appropriate areas, wear helmets, and basic rules of the road can help empower them to manage their own safety, but unfortunately, the reality is that in a collision, pedestrians don’t have much chance against a vehicle.

So, as drivers, it’s important to remember to manage our safety and theirs by slowing down, being vigilant, avoiding distractions, and trying to expect the unexpected.

This year, 15 pedestrians were killed in Nebraska, up 200% from last year. Other factors beyond driver behavior, such as the size and weight of vehicle, larger blind spots, and even road engineering problems such as unmarked or difficult to see crosswalks and poor lighting can complicate matters. However, being aware of the risks allows us to mitigate them, and if we are all empowered to manage our own safety AND anticipate the needs of those around us, we can work towards 0 deaths on our roadways!