Child pedestrian safety is especially important during the winter months.
High School Student Hit by Car While Crossing Culebra Road, Hospitalized
According to a KSAT News report, a student was struck by a passing vehicle while attempting to cross Culebra Road last Friday.
Police reported the incident happened at around 11:57 a.m. on Friday, November 22nd, in the 14100 block of Culebra Road. A Harlan High School student was trying to cross Culebra outside of a designated crosswalk and was struck by a passing vehicle. The driver stopped to render aid and cooperated with police and is not expected to face any charges. The extent of the student’s injuries was not reported, only that they were sent to the hospital for evaluation.
Did You Know?
Culebra is one of the deadliest roads for pedestrians and motorists in San Antonio.
How Is the NHTSA Combating Rising Pedestrian Deaths?
Between 2013 and 2022, pedestrian fatalities across the United States increased 57% from 4,779 to 7,522.
Texas consistently ranks within the top 5 states for pedestrian fatalities. Texas ranks 12th in terms of fatality rate in 2022 due to the size of the population but has the second highest number of pedestrian fatalities. For 2022, the states with the most pedestrian deaths were:
- California: 1,158
- Texas: 797
- Florida: 773
- Georgia: 345
- New York: 303
The NHTSA has extensive resources on pedestrian safety (you can read more about that here) but has recently proposed a new rule that would require passenger vehicles to be designed to reduce pedestrian deaths and injuries.
Safer Cars, Safer Pedestrians
One of the ways the NHTSA fights against pedestrian fatalities is by proposing new vehicle safety standards, like the new standard they proposed in September of this year.
“The proposed standard would establish test procedures simulating a head-to-hood impact and performance requirements to minimize the risk of head injury,” they said in a news release.
These proposed tests, if accepted, would require the use of human-like headforms to measure the head-to-hood impact of a variety of pedestrians, from small children to adults. In minimizing the risk of head injury, they estimate this new standard would save 67 lives per year.
What Can I Do To Reduce Pedestrian Fatalities?
In 2022, 88% of the 7,522 pedestrian fatalities occurred in single-vehicle crashes.
You can’t control the actions of the people around you, but you can do your part as a driver and as a pedestrian to make the roads safer for everyone.
Tips for Drivers
As a driver, you can:
- Slow Down — especially during rainy weather and when driving at night.
- Use Extra Caution Backing Up — look twice for children in neighborhoods and parking lots.
- Drive Sober — don’t EVER drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Yield to Pedestrians — when pedestrians have the right of way, make sure to give to them.
Tips for Pedestrians
As a pedestrian, you can:
- Follow the Rules of the Road.
- Walk on Sidewalks Whenever Available.
- Cross at Crosswalks or Intersections Only.
- Avoiding Walking When Drunk or Under the Influence of Drugs.
Around the holidays, the roads become even more dangerous across Texas. Do your part this year — you may just save a life. Thank you for keeping Texas roads safe.
Did You Lose a Loved One in a Pedestrian Accident in Texas? Call Shaw.
You can do everything right and still lose a loved one to a careless driver. When the worst happens, call Shaw.
For over 31 years, the Carabin Shaw law firm has helped their clients receive compensation after a tragic loss for things like:
- Medical Bills,
- Funeral/Burial Costs,
- Loss of Consortium,
- Loss of Support,
- Loss of Love, Companionship, and Care,
- Lost Benefits,
- And More.
We’ll help you find out if you have a case for free.
Call Shaw for your wrongful death claim at 800-862-1260 to schedule your free case evaluation with one of our experienced wrongful death attorneys. No fees, no obligations, just the expert legal advice you need. We’re a trusted name in San Antonio and across Texas because we put our clients first. We look forward to serving you.
Main office located in San Antonio, Texas.
³FARS Data on 2022 Pedestrian Fatalities