The Denver area is rich with incredible natural resources. People find many ways to enjoy the state’s beauty and preserve it. Walking around town can be a great way to do both. Reducing how much you travel in your vehicle can help limit pollution and keep Colorado beautiful while also enjoying the beautiful vistas and local community.
Unfortunately, the downside of walking as a form of transportation is the risk it creates for pedestrians. Although traffic collisions have mostly declined in recent years, pedestrians aren’t so lucky. In fact, the rate of pedestrian collisions in Colorado and across the country has been on the rise for years now. How much risk do pedestrians have on the Colorado roads?
Colorado roads are more dangerous than the roads in many other states
Although overall, most pedestrians do still reach their destination without incident, it is worth noting that people in Colorado are at higher risk than people in most other states to get hurt by someone in a vehicle while walking.
According to information released by AAA Colorado, the number of pedestrians that die each year has almost doubled since 2009. Colorado has seen a roughly 89% increase in fatalities, which is much higher than the national average, which shows a 55% increase in pedestrian deaths. There are usually several injurious pedestrian crashes for every fatal one.
Why is the risk so high?
There are numerous factors that can increase the risk to someone walking along a busy road. Pedestrians can make dangerous decisions if they don’t pay attention to their environment and obey all traffic laws.
Still, even pedestrians who wait for their turn and follow all the rules could get hurt by a driver who isn’t paying attention. Many crashes between pedestrians and vehicles occur because the driver wasn’t focused on driving. Talking to others or texting might mean a driver fails to notice a pedestrian right in front of them.
As a pedestrian, you will not have insurance except for the coverage of the driver who causes the crash. Whether you end up severely hurt in a pedestrian crash or lose a loved one, you may need to prepare for insurance negotiations or a civil lawsuit to hold the driver responsible.