USDOT Releases Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently released Pedestrian Safety Action Plan to address the reduction of pedestrian injuries and fatalities on America’s roads.

“People may have preferences when it comes to transportation, but at some point, everyone is a pedestrian,” the plan’s introduction begins. “Whether it is walking to a neighbor’s house, work, or school; accessing transit; shopping; or for exercising – walking is transportation. However, in the last decade, there has been an increase in fatalities for this basic form of transportation.”

An alarming statistic behind the plan is that while overall driving fatalities have increased 9%, pedestrian  fatalities have increased 44% between 2010 & 2019.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) coordinated to develop the USDOT Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. To accomplish its goal, the agencies will take a comprehensive approach that encompasses improvements to the roadway and surrounding environment, increased education on the shared responsibility of both pedestrians and motorists along with enforcement and adjudication of pedestrian safety laws. The plan includes 30 actions that will be completed by the end of  December 2020 and another 60 to be completed in 2021 and beyond.

Here is a link to the plan and a PDF below:

FHWA_PedSafety_ActionPlan_Nov2020