Pedestrians aren’t safe in St. Louis
St. Louis is a city designed for cars, not pedestrians. That was the conclusion in 2018 of Strong Towns, a national non-profit focused on improving city life in the U.S. It found a “significant majority” of the city’s pedestrian deaths occurred on four main “stroads.” A stroad is a street/road hybrid where high speed auto traffic mixes with pedestrians and cyclists.
In 2017 KMOV-TV reported the number of pedestrian deaths on St. Louis streets was “three times the national average.” It included a list of “specific dangers” pedestrians face. According to the report, the St. Louis region has wide roads with few crosswalks that were built when it had “more people driving.”
In 2016, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, said about the spike in pedestrian deaths in the state, that pedestrians represented “nearly 10% of all Missouri fatalities.” Several of the deaths were shocking. A car hit a pedestrian and cut her in half in 2017 on Natural Bridge Avenue. The victim was a grandmother walking to a bus stop. A 23-year old pedestrian was tossed 80 feet into the air by a speeding car downtown. The KSDK-TV story about the deaths, said Missouri had a pedestrian death rate higher than any nearby state in 2016.
Pedestrian deaths skyrocketing across much of the U.S
The Governors Highway Safety Association reported the number of pedestrians killed in 2016 was 11% higher compared to 2015. It estimated nearly 6,000 pedestrians were hit and killed on U.S. streets and roads in 2016. It saw no drop in the deaths in a preliminary report for 2017 and said the “dramatic growth” in cell phone use was a major cause for the fatalities.
Searching for Solutions as cities grow
From 2010 to 2016, “the number of smartphones increased from 78 million to 262 million” and yearly wireless data use rose 400%, according to a prominent traffic engineer who says cell phones impair the brain “like drugs and alcohol.” Another expert is urging changes in infrastructure to make city streets safer for the growing number of pedestrians. According to Grayline Group, a company that helps businesses and governments adapt to the future, 82% of North Americans now live in urban areas and their numbers will continue to increase.
Wyatt Wright successfully represents pedestrians and their loved ones
Wyatt Wright knows what causes these terrible accidents and where to place the blame. For years, he has successfully represented victims of irresponsible drivers who ignore the law and put others at risk. Wyatt Wright is one of America’s top trial lawyers. His many, national legal awards are based on top dollar results for his clients.
Wyatt Wright does not bill by the hour. Calls and evaluations of your case are free. You will only pay fees, agreed upon in advance, when your case is successfully resolved in court or a settlement has been negotiated in your favor.