Why Are So Many Pedestrians Killed by Cars in the US?
Why Are So Many Pedestrians Killed by Cars in the US?
An analysis of pedestrian deaths in the US reveals a significant increase since 2009, unlike other high-income countries. This rise is primarily observed on urban roads and disproportionately affects older age brackets (30-39 and 60-79). While driver behavior and distraction are hard to quantify, the article points to the 'Big SUV hypothesis' as the strongest explanation due to the increased deadliness of pedestrian accidents, even though deaths involving sedans have also risen. Other factors like drug use by drivers and pedestrians are considered, but not as primary causes. The study uses NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data to explore these trends.
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this was a fruitful exercise in learning how to try and tell a story with data.
it's an art and the answer you come up with will always be nuanced. the hope is to tell a truthful and compelling story, but one must not force it.
i appreciate the conclusions in this article. there is no one answer and while it would be easy to blame bigger cars and cell phones, it is more honest to realize that the answer is elusive and if we wanted things to change, we likely need to take many small actions instead of just one big one.
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