October 2024 Pedestrian Safety & More!

There are three, crucially important traffic safety observances in the month of October. Pedestrian Safety Month, School Bus Safety Week, and Teen Driving Safety Week.

This year, there have already been more pedestrian fatalities in Nebraska than in the entire year of 2023. While motorists can help prevent these deaths by simply slowing down, paying attention, and being mindful of areas with increased pedestrian traffic, such as near schools, the responsibility is not theirs alone. Roadway construction and ordinances also play a crucial role. Ensuring that crossing areas are well-lit, clearly marked, and not too few and far between can help reduce darting and jaywalking behaviors. Pedestrian islands can make crossing large intersections more manageable by breaking them into smaller segments. School zones and other areas with lower posted speeds, speed bumps, and other traffic-calming devices can significantly improve the chances of surviving crashes.However, pedestrians themselves can also contribute to safety by being visible, crossing at designated areas, and avoiding distractions like phones and other devices.

There’s a great deal of overlap with school bus safety. The most dangerous times for bus riders are during drop-off and pick-up, but drivers who slow their speeds and obey the red stop arm can eliminate many risks. Teaching children how to cross the road safely from a young age is also a crucial safety measure.

Finally, there’s Teen Driving Safety Week to consider. In Nebraska, drivers aged 19 and younger made up 8% of all licensed drivers in 2023 yet accounted for 18% of all crashes. Across the country, this age group is similarly overrepresented in crash statistics. A combination of inexperience, increased distractions, and risky attitudes toward driving safety — 81% of the 21 teen traffic fatalities in Nebraska in 2023 were not wearing a seatbelt — can be deadly. Increasing driver education, using Do Not Disturb phone settings while driving, and implementing graduated licensing laws can help keep young drivers safer, without compromising the independence that driving provides.