Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Prevention of Pedestrian Accidents in Massachusetts (Part A)
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), although pedestrian accident and motor vehicle deaths in Massachusetts have recently declined, pedestrian accidents still account for 11% of all traffic accident deaths.
Clearly, there is more to do to prevent these pedestrian disasters.
Factors in Pedestrian Accidents
In order to increase safety and prevent personal injury and/or death, one has to know some of the reasons for the accidents. Some factors in pedestrian accidents supplied from the IIHS include:
- Pedestrian walkways – people stuck at crosswalks and sidewalks
- Driver intoxication – driver under the influence of alcohol
- Day of the week – most accidents take place on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday
- Time of day – the majority of accidents occur between 6:00 pm and midnight
- Geographic area – more pedestrian deaths in urban areas
Safety Guidelines
The National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) is tasked with reducing the accident death rate by developing uniform guidelines for state highway safety programs, including Massachusetts.
The key accident prevention components require each state to:
- Create a centralized pedestrian and bicycle safety program
- Implement and enforce safety laws.
- Include law enforcement in community pedestrian programs.
- Complete traffic engineering that maximizes safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
- Develop communication and outreach programs.
- Include safety information regarding pedestrians and bicyclists in driver’s education programs.
Massachusetts Pedestrian Law
The state of Massachusetts’ pedestrian law states, “Section 11. When traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be so to yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk marked in accordance with standards established by the department of highways …” The law provides for a fine should a driver violate this provision.
Continue to Prevention of Pedestrian Accidents in Massachusetts (Part B) >>
