How Maryland Ranks For Pedestrian Traffic Deaths

MARYLAND — Maryland ranks 13th in the country based on pedestrian fatality rates in the first six months of 2018, according to a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

The safety organization looked at pedestrian traffic deaths in every state to see which had the highest rates. The group broke down the information by total number of fatalities, fatality rates per 100,000 people, and the percent change from the same time period in 2017.

Based on the data from the first half of 2018, here's what officials found about Maryland:

• Number of pedestrian traffic deaths: 60
• Pedestrian traffic fatalities per 100,000: 1
• Number of pedestrian traffic deaths in first half of 2017: 48
• Percent change from 2017 to 2018: 25 percent

You’ll want to be extra careful walking alongside a road in New Mexico. The state finished with the highest pedestrian fatality rate in the nation, with 2.26 deaths for every 100,000 people, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association report.

Be Careful After Dark

About 76 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur after dark, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

As the seasons change, officials advise people to be more aware of their surroundings.

"The fall and winter months bring less daylight and darker commuting hours, which can lead to more crashes between cars and pedestrians or bicyclists," the Metropolitan Washington Council advises. "Fewer daylight hours spell danger for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers."

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Maryland isn’t taking a backseat approach to the growing problem.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, which includes Maryland counties in the D.C. metro, is raising public awareness about pedestrian fatalities through its fall Street Smart Program.

Over the summer, the Maryland Department of Transportation and Baltimore Metropolitan Council launched the Look Alive campaign to encourage people to look up and away from their cell phones, bringing to life the "walk signal" icon through the character of "Signal Woman."

Here are tips from the Maryland Department of Transportation for increasing pedestrian safety.

Tips For Drivers

• Stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and for other vehicles stopped for pedestrians.
• Yield right-of-way to pedestrians when turning at a green signal or arrow.
• Slow down in areas where there are more pedestrians.
• Never block the crosswalk.
• Yield to pedestrians when turning on red.
• Honk if a pedestrian does not see you.

Tips For Pedestrians

• Use marked crosswalks when available.
• Obey the pedestrian crossing signal.
• Do not cross intersections diagonally.
• Use sidewalks if they are available.
• Give cars the right of way if crossing somewhere other than a crosswalk or intersection.
• Walk facing traffic on the left shoulder or on the left side if you must walk in the road.

Overall Increase In Pedestrian Fatalities

Pedestrian fatality rates have been on the increase in the United States.

Pedestrian traffic deaths increased 35 percent in the United States from 2008 to 2017. While it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause for the uptick, the Governors Highway Safety Association cites the national shift away from passenger cars to larger trucks and the growth of smartphone use as two possible reasons.

Here are the 10 states with the most pedestrian traffic deaths in the first half of 2018:

1. California: 432
2. Florida: 330
3. Texas: 298
4. Georgia: 133
5. Arizona: 125
6. New York: 117
7. North Carolina: 102
8. Pennsylvania: 90
9. Illinois: 80
10. Louisiana: 77
11. South Carolina: 74
12. New Jersey: 73
13. Ohio: 63
14. Maryland: 60
15. Michigan: 58
16. Virginia: 53
17. Tennessee: 52
18. New Mexico: 47

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association report, 2018 was not all bad:

• Pedestrian deaths during the first half of 2018 declined in 23 states compared with the same period in 2017.
• Six states had double-digit declines in both the number and percent change in pedestrian fatalities from 2017.
• Three states reported two consecutive years of a declining number of pedestrian deaths.

Patch reporter Gus Saltonstall contributed to this report.