This Is What The CDC Recommends For Avoiding A New Haven Pedestrian Accident

The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) studies and does research on many health related issues.  In recent years, most Americans have become familiar with the agency because of their work on the COVID-19 virus, but that is not the only type of thing they work on.  In fact, anything that touches public health and safety is something that the CDC will look into.  This includes pedestrian safety which is an area where you might not expect much from the agency.  In recent years as pedestrian accidents have increased it has become more and more important that these incidents be looked at as public health and safety issues and more be learned about how they can be prevented.

This is not a small problem across the United States, in fact, in 2020 there were 7,000 deaths relating to pedestrians and motor vehicles.  If you calculate that out, it becomes one death every 75 minutes.  To take the point even further, as auto accidents get a lot of the coverage, 1 out of every 6 crashes in 2020 involved a pedestrian.  These stunning numbers required further investigation and more thoughtful people looking at the issue and coming up with ways that the average person can work to avoid getting injured or killed in this type of accident in the future.

In that vein, the CDC has put together some thoughts on how you can prevent getting yourself into a New Haven pedestrian accident.

1.) Always use dedicated crosswalks when you can and if there is a crosswalk nearby, continue walking until you get to it and then cross the street at the marked location.  This will make it easier to be seen and allow you a better chance that the on-coming car will slow down to let you cross.

2.) Ditch the electronics.  One thing that can be very dangerous when you’re walking in a busy city is earbuds.  It is nice to be listening to music or a podcast, but you are then limiting your hearing and that is one of the essential senses to keep you safe from on-coming traffic.  The CDC recommends that you avoid any distractions all together while you’re walking.

3.) When walking at night it is recommended that you wear reflective clothing and if you don’t have reflective clothing that you carry a flashlight to increase your visibility.

4.) Avoid walking through the streets of the city when you are under the influence of drugs and alcohol.  These substances can cause you to have blurred vision and make poor decisions which can certainly lead to getting into an accident.

Following the CDC’s recommendations on pedestrian accidents can go a long way in helping you stay safe when you’re out for a walk through the Elm City.  One of the best things about our city is how walkable it is and making sure that you are taking the safety precautions necessary will allow you to enjoy the best our city has to offer without feeling like you are at risk of getting injured.

If you do find yourself injured after a walk around New Haven, contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your case and work with you to protect your long-term interests.