Pedestrian Fatality Statistics: Aging Population not Wearing Reflective Gear
Having analyzed road accidents and generalized statistical data, SE Lithuanian Road Administration has refreshed the portrait of a pedestrian fatality on Lithuanian state significance roads: a 61-year-old male not wearing reflective gear or accessories walking along unlit exurban road on autumn or winter Friday night between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. The portrait has been updated according to the statistical road accident data of 2018–2020.
The Director of SE Lithuanian Road Administration Remigijaus Lipkevičiaus reminds that the first pedestrian fatality portrait was created and publicized in 2018 based on the 2013–2017 data.
The data of the Lithuanian Police show a general decline in the number of pedestrian fatalities during the last two years (in 2019 it was 16.9% lower compared to 2018 and in 2020 13.6 % lower compared to 2019). It should be pointed out that pedestrians remain the most vulnerable group of road users.
“During the last four years, the portrait of a statistical pedestrian fatality on state roads has not changed essentially. In 2020 elders over 71 made up even 31% of all pedestrian fatalities on state roads. We therefore invite everybody to take care of their parents and grandparents by providing reflective gear and accessories to them”, says R. Lipkevičius.
According to the analysis conducted earlier in 2013–2017, a statistical pedestrian fatality was more frequently insober. However, 2018–2020 trend shows that a pedestrian fatality was more frequently sober.
Autumn and winter months are a challenge to all roads users: they have to walk in the dark or at dusk. On the other hand, rain, snow and cold increase the braking distance and it is more difficult for a driver not only to spot a pedestrian, but to brake the car in time. During this time pedestrians walking along exurban road shoulders have to be extremely careful due to snow-covered shoulders and narrower carriageway on some sections, They shall take the left side of the road in the opposite direction of traffic, to carry a torch or wear a bright-coloured vests with reflective stripes. It is vital to wear high visibility reflective gear properly to capture the attention of other road users.
According to the data of the Lithuanian Road Police, in 2020 36 out of 51 pedestrians died in the dark, which makes up 71 per cent of all pedestrian fatalities.