John Townsend
Public Relations Manager, DC
O: (202) 481-6820 (ext. 4462108)
C: (202) 253-2171
jtownsend@aaamidatlantic.com
WASHINGTON, D. C. (Wednesday, February 12, 2020) ––Walking seniors are dying in record numbers on Virginia’s roads. Fairfax County, Virginia’s largest jurisdiction, headed the state in the highest number of senior pedestrian deaths during 2019. Five pedestrians of all ages, including a 60-year-old man, have lost their lives in Fairfax County so far in 2020. Mature pedestrian deaths in 2019 were up 95 percent in Virginia from just a year earlier, according to preliminary numbers from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. In 2019, 37 senior pedestrians (65 and older) died, compared to 19 elderly pedestrians in 2018.
Nationwide, senior adults comprise nearly a fourth of all pedestrian fatalities and they are twice more likely to perish in traffic incidents than members of any other age group. Pedestrians 65 and older comprised more than a third, or 37.5 percent, of all pedestrian deaths in Fairfax County during 2019, cautions AAA Mid-Atlantic. Not crossing the street at an intersection was the top factor contributing to these senior pedestrian fatalities. Drivers are not expecting to see pedestrians on the road outside of an intersection, and those drivers may be further hindered by curves, or other road conditions that make spotting a pedestrian more difficult. While Virginia’s numbers are staggering, the problem is not isolated. Just last week, 91 year-old Hollywood actor Orson Bean was struck and killed by two cars as he attempted to cross Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles. Police say Bean tried to cross the street outside of a crosswalk.
“The huge increase in senior pedestrian fatalities in Virginia is alarming. AAA reminds all seniors to cross either at intersections or clearly marked cross walks, attempt to signal drivers or make eye contact with them before stepping onto the roadway, and to wear visible clothing when walking,” said Morgan Dean, Senior Specialist, AAA Mid-Atlantic Public and Government Affairs.
Senior pedestrian fatalities were more likely to occur in densely populated areas with 76 percent of victims in 2019 killed on urban roads. Fairfax County (six deaths) had the highest number of senior pedestrian deaths last year. Henrico County (4 deaths) and Arlington County (3 deaths) were number two and three on the list. All told, 16 pedestrians age 70 and over were killed in Virginia in the period from January through October 2019. It is a 129% increase. But by year’s end that tragic toll included 37 pedestrians 65 and older, or 30.8% of all pedestrian deaths in Virginia, according to 2019 preliminary data.
The most common times for seniors to be struck were sunset (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and sunrise (6 a.m. – 9 a.m.) when it can be more difficult for both drivers and senior pedestrians to see due to poor lighting or the angle of the sun. Lastly, and equally tragic, nearly 9 out of 10 victims (84%) were within 5 miles of their homes when they were hit and killed.
Reportedly, Fairfax County witnessed 16 pedestrian deaths during 2019, compared to 23 pedestrian fatalities in Prince George’s County, Maryland, 14 pedestrian deaths in Washington, D.C. and 14 pedestrian deaths in Montgomery County, Maryland in 2019. In 2018, 17 pedestrians of all ages lost their lives on roadways in Fairfax County. In contrast, 28 pedestrians perished in Prince George’s County, while Montgomery County saw 14 pedestrian deaths, and 11 pedestrians lost their lives on roadways in Washington, D.C. proper.” That year 88 pedestrians were killed in traffic incidents across the Washington metro region. It comprises more than a 14 percent increase over 2017, according to the Fall 2019 Street Smart Campaign.
“The human toll is staggering. During 2018 and 2019, Fairfax County witnessed the second highest number of pedestrian fatalities in the Washington metro area. It followed only Prince George’s County Maryland, which is the locus of the highest pedestrian death toll in the Washington metro region and in the entire state of Maryland” said John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs. “Most pedestrian fatalities in Fairfax County occur on roadways with posted speed limits of 40 or 45 miles per hour, such as Route 1, Route 7, Route 235 and Route 29, reports the Fairfax County Government.”
Even so, 123 pedestrians perished on Virginia’s roads in 2018, compared to at least 120 pedestrian deaths in 2019. This increase in the number of senior pedestrians comes just a year after one of the deadliest years in the U.S. in decades for pedestrians. “Nationally, pedestrian fatalities in crashes increased 53 percent in the last decade (2009 to 2018), with the pedestrians’ share of traffic fatalities increasing 42 percent, from 12 to 17 percent.” More than 6,200 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes on U.S. roads in 2018, according to a report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). That’s the highest number of pedestrian deaths since 1990. Yesterday morning, Fairfax County recorded its 5th pedestrian fatality in 2020.
“Pedestrians hit by four thousand pound vehicles are obviously at great risk of injury or death, but seniors are even more likely to be seriously injured or killed as bodies become more frail and lose muscle mass and bone density as they age, making then more fragile over all,” Dean added.
To protect the lives and limbs of those on foot, especially children and senior citizens, motorists must always yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, advises AAA Mid-Atlantic. What is more, motorists should not pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. They have stopped to allow pedestrians to pass or make sure the way is clear. Be mindful of pedestrians when pulling into and out of driveways – especially if you are backing up. AAA tips for being safe while walking on the roads:
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Wear brightly colored or reflective clothing to make yourself more visible to drivers.
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Use a flashlight to make you more visible to vehicles in the dark.
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Cross at controlled crosswalks with flashing warning lights.
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If there isn’t an intersection or crosswalk, cross the road in a well-lit area.
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Don’t assume a driver sees you. Signal them and make eye contact with them before you step off the curb. (DMV released the video “Eyes Meet to Cross Streets” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gSj9fFabUo to show how pedestrians can share the responsibility of making sure they are safe.)
Preliminary numbers from the Virginia DMV also show that there were 133 fatalities involving senior drivers in 2019. That’s a 6% increase from a year earlier. Eighty-four percent of those deadly crashes were on non-interstate roads. Forty-three percent of the crashes involved only a single vehicle. One-third of the victims (34%) were not wearing their seat belts. “Senior citizens (persons age 65 and over) comprise 13 percent of the population, but account for 23 percent of all pedestrian fatalities - meaning that seniors are almost twice as likely to be killed by an automobile as members of the general public,” reports the Loyola University Health System (LUHS).
In Virginia, AAA Mid-Atlantic Traffic Safety Specialists Haley Glynn and Leah Scully work with hundreds of seniors and their families each and every year teaching them about being safe on the roads during her “CarFit,” “Enhancing Driver Safety,” and “Family Concerns for the Senior Driver” demonstrations.
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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 60 million members nationwide and nearly 82,000 members in the District of Columbia. AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years. The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit https://aaa.com
Ragina C. Ali
Public Relations Manager, MD
O: (410) 616-1900 (ext. 4361152)
C: (443) 465-5020
RAli@aaamidatlantic.com