In Quincy and the surrounding areas of Illinois, pedestrians need to be aware of the potential for an accident. Since the area is such a hub for many industries, people are constantly going back and forth. With the number of vehicles that are on the road, this puts them in jeopardy for various reasons.
In addition, there are several interstates and bridges that serve the area, adding to the risk. Fortunately, the statistics indicate that pedestrian safety is improving in the state. Still, worrisome issues remain and people need to prepare for them.
Improvements to pedestrian safety are positive, but people should remain wary
The Governors Highway Safety Association released its pedestrian fatality statistics for 2022. While the national numbers have gotten worse, Illinois has seen drastic improvement. Overall, there were 7,500 pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. This was the worst total in more than four decades and nearly double the total in 2010.
Illinois, however, had a pedestrian fatality rate of 1.59 people for every 100,000 in 2022. The GHSA says that there were 200 pedestrian fatalities in 2022. That was a modest reduction – though still notable – from 2021 when there were 212 deaths. For context, there were 171 pedestrian deaths in 2019.
Despite that, safety advocates are pointing out how driver behavior is putting pedestrians and bicyclists in danger. Anecdotal evidence discusses speeding as a major problem. Also, the prevalence of distracted driving continues unabated even though law enforcement and government entities have taken steps to try and tamp down on the practice.
Digging deeper into the numbers shows that nighttime pedestrian accidents happen far more frequently. Particularly relevant to Quincy is that a lack of sidewalks factor in with pedestrian accidents and rural parts of the area do not have sidewalks or do not have quality sidewalks. Larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks cause greater damage when there is a collision with a pedestrian and a growing number of people are buying these types of vehicles.
After a pedestrian accident, knowing the options is imperative
Since the accidents in Quincy and the nearby parts of the state can be unique, it is important to understand how to move forward when deciding on the available options. Problems people have after a pedestrian accident include long-term injuries, the inability to work, massive medical costs and trouble interacting with a family. In these instances, having empathetic advice can be a major difference-maker in seeking a positive outcome.