Pedestrian-Unfriendly Streets Claim More Lives in 2011 (2)

Published: 24.01.2012 09:29

Police say that if pedestrians wear one of these nifty reflectors they are more likely to be spotted in the dark by a careless driver.
( Photo: Postimees/Scanpix )

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Last year was another hostile year for pedestrians crossing the street, as deaths shot up to nearly double the figure for 2010.

Twenty-six pedestrians and 13 bicyclists died in traffic accidents in 2011. A year earlier, only 14 pedestrians were killed.

In 2011, the death tally for traffic accidents overall reached 101, including 34 drivers, 23 passengers, four motorcyclists and one scooter driver.

The high number of deaths was an unfortunate regression from 2010, which had a record low of 78.

The national traffic safety campaign for 2013 to 2015 sets the target of fewer than 100 traffic fatalities a year by 2015. In 2006 the figure was 204. Sixteen of the pedestrians who were killed in 2011 were not wearing required light reflectors.

 

Ott Tammik

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Comments (2)

  • Foreigner

    24.01.2012 09:44

    So, if ~40% pedestrians died even using the reflector... maybe the reflector is not the only solution? I guess the lack of proper sidewalks and bike roads, specially in winter (covered with snow) might be related?

  • Fons

    24.01.2012 10:11

    Often, way too often, it happens that when I stop to allow pedestrians to cross the street, other cars seem to be oblivious to all traffic signs, flashing lights overhead and general surroundings. They simply veer left or right and continue at the same speed not noticing mothers with carriages, old people, kids on bikes. Drivers seem not to care or deem keeping up their Beamer-image more important than lifes of others. Reflectors help but so does trying to curb the attitude of cardrivers.