Monterey, CA Pedestrian Traffic Deaths On The Rise : Elderly At Risk
by Richard Kuehn on 07/31/13
Monterey, CA Pedestrian Traffic Deaths On The Rise : Elderly At Risk : View From A Nonprofit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California Pedestrian-vehicle fatalities have been rising in recent years after decades of decline. Be careful—the elderly are the most at risk. In 1975, pedestrians which were killed in traffic accidents were 7,500, a number which dropped to just 4,109 in 2009. However, by 2011 this number had risen to 4,432, a full 14% of all traffic deaths in that year. Pedestrians over the age of 70 have twice the risk of being hit by a car and killed than do younger victims, according to the Department of Transportation. Unfortunately, many of these accidents are preventable and are directly linked to advances in technology that we have made. Everyone has seen inattentive drivers crossing the line while babbling on the phone and teenagers on skateboards with headphones on, completely unaware of their surroundings. Authorities report that a growing problem is drivers and pedestrians not paying attention because they are on cell phones or iPads, something which is not hard to believe. Although driving while using one of these devices is illegal in California, you see people doing it all the time. Pay attention and please put your iPad down when crossing the street!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323971204578627662186656032.html
