In Texas, this month is dangerous for pedestrians. They’re killed in 22% of crashes
November is the most dangerous month for pedestrians on Texas roads, a new study found, with slightly over 22% of fatal crashes involving a pedestrian getting killed.
Personal injury lawyers at Zinda Law Group analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the number of pedestrian deaths in motor vehicle crashes between 2017 and 2021.
They found that Texas pedestrians are most at risk in November. A total of 1,563 fatal motor vehicle crashes were reported during the month, in which 345 pedestrians died.
Winter is a particularly dangerous season for pedestrians, with January and February ranking second and third. During January, nearly 22% of crashes involved the death of a pedestrian. Of the 307 pedestrians killed in 1,401 fatal crashes, 225 were linked to nighttime incidents. February had almost 21% of fatal crashes involving a pedestrian death. Fatal crashes totaled 1,239 during this month, and pedestrian deaths totaled 260.
Meanwhile, the warmer months of spring and summer were safer, with April being the safest month for pedestrians in the state, followed by June and August. Of the 1,351 incidents on record in April between 2017 and 2021, 216 pedestrians were killed, meaning 16% of fatal crashes involved a pedestrian fatality. In June, 247 pedestrians were killed in fatal crashes, translating to 17% of fatal crashes involving a pedestrian fatality. As for August, 18% of fatal crashes saw a pedestrian killed, with 268 pedestrian deaths across 1,517 crashes.
Evenings during the winter months are some of the most dangerous times to travel as a pedestrian, a spokesperson for Zinda Law Group said in a press release. Over 70% of pedestrians killed in a fatal crash were involved in an incident during the nighttime.
“If you decide to take a walk in the darker months or during the evening, make sure to wear reflective clothing if possible and travel in well-lit areas,” the spokesperson recommends. “It is vital to always be aware of your surroundings for possible vehicles, removing earphones or reducing the volume of your music to ensure you move as safely as possible.”
This story was originally published October 16, 2023 at 7:02 AM.
