Speeding is a major factor in pedestrian fatalities in Iowa, especially in urban areas where there are high concentrations of pedestrians. Studies have shown that higher vehicle speeds greatly increase the risk of pedestrian deaths in the event of a collision. This article will examine the role that speeding plays in urban pedestrian fatalities and discuss potential solutions to reduce speed-related pedestrian deaths.
The Impact of Speed on Pedestrian Fatalities
There is a direct correlation between vehicle speed and pedestrian fatality rates. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, a pedestrian is 90% likely to survive a collision when a vehicle is traveling at 20 mph or below. But at 30 mph, the chances of survival plummet to 50%. Once speeds reach 40 mph, a pedestrian has a 90% chance of being killed if hit by a vehicle. The dramatic increase in fatality risk as speeds rise illustrates why speeding is so dangerous in areas of Iowa with pedestrian traffic.
Other factors like vehicle size and pedestrian age also influence the severity of collisions. But speed is the most critical factor in whether a struck pedestrian lives or dies. High speeds give drivers less time to stop and pedestrians less time to react. Higher speeds also mean pedestrians will be thrown further upon impact, increasing injury severity. Managing speeds is therefore essential for reducing pedestrian fatalities in urban areas.
The Prevalence of Speeding in Iowa Cities
Despite lower speed limits on city streets, speeding remains commonplace in many urban areas of Iowa. Aggressive driving habits, wide lanes, and lack of traffic calming measures all enable higher speeds. And excessive speeds are frequently documented prior to pedestrian crashes.
One study analyzing pedestrian crashes in large cities found that over two-thirds involved vehicles exceeding the speed limit. Drivers were traveling over 40 mph in nearly 20% of the crashes studied. Other data shows that around 40% of pedestrians are hit by drivers speeding in urban areas nationwide. The high incidence of speeding in pedestrian crash statistics highlights the need for greater speed limit enforcement and traffic calming in cities.
Potential Countermeasures to Reduce Speeding
There are several engineering and enforcement strategies that can be implemented to reduce speeding in urban areas of Iowa and improve pedestrian safety. These include:
- Lowering speed limits: Reducing neighborhood speed limits to 20 mph or below forces drivers to maintain safer speeds.
- Speed humps, bumps, and chicanes: Vertical deflections and narrowed roadways force drivers to slow down. When combined with lower speed limits, these features can reduce speeds by up to 14 mph.
- Automated speed enforcement: Methods like speed cameras provide round-the-clock enforcement needed to deter speeding.
- Increased police enforcement: High visibility police enforcement targeting speeding drivers raises awareness and improves compliance with speed limits. However, it must be sustained to remain effective.
Adopting these measures widely across urban areas would provide greater speed limit compliance and significantly lower driving speeds, resulting in fewer pedestrian deaths.
Looking Ahead
As Iowa urban populations grow, improving pedestrian safety will require a concerted focus on reducing vehicle speeds through a combination of street design changes, legislation, enforcement, and awareness campaigns. While culture change takes time, lower speed limits paired with traffic calming measures and automated enforcement provide the most immediate path to preventing speed-related pedestrian fatalities.
Sustained efforts to manage speeds and curb aggressive driving ultimately could eliminate the high pedestrian death toll in cities. By addressing the major risk factor of speeding in Iowa and other states, urban areas nationwide can work toward the goal of zero pedestrian fatalities.
Speak to a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured as a pedestrian in an accident in Iowa, consulting a pedestrian accident lawyer from Monge & Associates can help you understand your legal rights and navigate the claims process.
A skilled pedestrian accident attorney from Monge & Associates has extensive experience handling these unique cases and negotiating with insurance companies. They will conduct a thorough investigation of your accident to build the strongest case possible and determine all liable parties. We can also consult with medical experts to assess the full extent of your injuries and calculate damages, including medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.
With an attorney from our firm representing you, the insurance company is more likely to offer a fair settlement instead of denying or underpaying your claim.
We have offices in 32 locations and 19 states, including Iowa, Colorado, and Pennsylvania.
Call now for a free consultation on (888) 477-0597.