Pandemic Era Sees a Spike in Pedestrian Deaths

Pedestrians die in alarming numbers in Virginia’s biggest cities. This month, a 71-year-old man was killed on the 2700 block of Church Street in Norfolk. Sadly, the death was part of a wider trend as the pandemic era sees a spike in pedestrian deaths nationwide.

Is COVID-19 Pandemic Causing a Rise in Accidents?

It’s unclear if the increase in fatalities of people on foot is increasing due to the pandemic but some experts see a worrying pattern. The Chicago Tribune reports two years into the COVID-19 pandemic,  fatalities are soaring into record territory amid a corresponding rise in reckless driving. State authorities have cited factors as diverse as the rise in anxiety levels and increased alcohol consumption.

The Tribune interviewed Dr. David Spiegel, director of Stanford Medical School’s Center on Stress and Health,  who backed the theory that pandemic era stresses may be behind the increased death toll. He reported many motorists are facing what he calls “salience saturation.”

“We’re so saturated with fears about the virus and what it’s going to do. People feel that they get a pass on other threats,” Spiegel said.

However, pedestrians are dying with alarming regularity. Those who survive often face horrendous injuries.

Pedestrian Fatality Statistics

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, road crashes killed more than 6,700 pedestrians in 2020. This was a 5% rise over the 6,412 casualties recorded in 2019.

The group projected that the actual pedestrian fatality rate spiked about 21% in 2020 in real terms because far fewer miles were driven than in 2019 due to the pandemic. Initial data from 2021 points to yet another increase in the number of pedestrian deaths.

The figures are particularly stark because pedestrian deaths are mounting year-on-year in the United States at a time when they are falling in many other developed nations. The increase in pedestrian deaths is also greater than that for road deaths in general. Crashes killing pedestrians rose 46% over the last 10 years, compared with a 5% increase for all other crashes, the Governors Highway Safety Association found.

Virginia recorded 114 pedestrian fatalities in 2020. This was an 8.1% decrease over 2019, although deaths of walkers rose from 2018 to 2019. The most significant cause of the deaths was people crossing the road away from an intersection.

Although the pandemic era has seen a spike in pedestrian deaths in many states, COVID anxiety is just one possible explanation for the increase. Angie Schmitt, a writer, dubbed pedestrian deaths as a “silent epidemic” in her new book. She cites an aging population meaning more slow-moving and vulnerable people crossing the road, larger cars and SUVs, and more people moving to Sun Belt cities in the south that prioritize cars over walkers in their designs.

Reach Out to Our Attorneys for Legal Help

Whatever the reasons, the rise in deaths and injuries alarms our personal injury team. The highways of Norfolk, Newport News, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach are intimidating places for pedestrians who pay the price with their lives far too often. If you have lost a loved one or suffered serious injuries crossing the road, please call us at (757) 333-3333 for a free consultation.