The “Save Our Pedestrians Act,” introduced by Ohio Reps. Mike Carey and Emilia Sykes, aims to address the rising number of pedestrian deaths and injuries on U.S. roads.
The bill proposes allocating 5% of all funding given to states through the Highway Safety Improvement Program for projects focused on improving pedestrian safety at high-risk crossings. This would set aside approximately $100 million annually to make pedestrian crossings safer.
The Governors Highway Safety Association reported a 77% surge in pedestrian deaths between 2010 and 2021, with over 7,500 pedestrians estimated to have been killed in crashes in 2022.
Steps to Improve Pedestrian Safety (Credits: Bloomberg.com)
The proposed legislation seeks to enhance pedestrian safety by focusing on solutions such as improving crossings on multi-lane roads, installing medians, adding roundabouts, creating protected bike lanes, and constructing sidewalks. The goal is to address the specific needs of communities and make roads safer for everyone.
Notably, the legislation does not consider the role of larger vehicles, such as vans and SUVs, which have been found to be more likely to cause fatal pedestrian accidents.
The bill was prompted by a CBS News “Sunday Morning” report on the surge in pedestrian deaths, highlighting the tragic story of a family decimated by a traffic accident in Philadelphia.
The proposed legislation emphasizes redesigning crosswalks, roundabouts, sidewalks, and other infrastructure to create safer conditions for pedestrians. The introduction of this bill is part of broader efforts to tackle the increasing pedestrian safety crisis in the United States.
