The report, released this week, found that 732 pedestrians were killed on roads between just 2011 and 201. In the entire tri-state region during those years, 1,266 pedestrians total were killed, up 30 fatalities according to last year’s analysis.
A total of 76,000 pedestrians were injured in 2012 due to auto accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 4,743 pedestrians were killed in the same year across the country.
On average in the United States, one pedestrian injury in automobile accidents occurs every seven minutes, and a death happens once every two hours, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Westchester County had 30 fatalities, making it one of the most dangerous counties for pedestrians. Also downstate were nine fatalities in Rockland County, five fatalities in Putnam County and four in Dutchess County.
Deaths in Dutchess County included that of an 18-year-old female on Church St., a 23-year-old male on Crum Elbow Rd., a 41-year-old female on SR-82; and a 74-year-old male on E. Cedar St. Three of these deaths occurred in 2013; the 23-year-old male was struck in February of 2012.
Despite the 30 pedestrian deaths in Westchester County, however, it was not home to the single most deadly road. That, according to the review of federal data, belonged to Route 25 (Jericho Turnpike) in Suffolk County.
Westchester’s most dangerous spots, with two fatalities each, were Route 35 (Crompond Road), Route 22 (Old Post Road) and US 1.
The Tri-State Transportation Campaign is now pressuring New York State to create a more central database on pedestrian accidents. They also pushed for more initiatives like New York City’s Vision Zero program, which aims to reduce traffic related fatalities to zero.
Before Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero program was implemented, more than 60% of the pedestrian deaths between 2011 and 201 took place in the five boroughs of New York.
The group also asked the state to add more pedestrian safety features to roads, such as new lanes for pedestrians and cyclists.
Groups most affected by pedestrian and auto accidents included adults aged 65 and older, who made up the majority of killed or injured pedestrians. Of the children between the ages of five and 15 who are killed in auto accidents, 20% are also pedestrians, according to the NHTSA.
Data from the NHTSA also shows that most accidents in 2012 occurred at non-intersections in urban areas after dark.
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