Personal Injury Blog

New Year Safety Tips for Pedestrians in California

January 5th, 2012
new years safety tips

Pedestrians are at a high-risk of being involved in accidents in California especially on New Year's Eve

Pedestrians are at a high-risk of being involved in accidents in California on any day of the year, but on New Year’s with more numbers of both intoxicated drivers as well as pedestrians on the roads, those risks may be amplified. Here are some new year safety tips that will help prevent pedestrian accidents.

According to a study in 2005, the New Year’s Day holiday is the single deadliest day for pedestrians for Americans than any other day of the year.  Between 1986 and 2002, a total of 410 pedestrians were killed on this day.  Out of these, 58% were under the influence of alcohol.  However, it’s not just intoxicated pedestrians who are responsible for this increase in accidents on New Year’s.  It is also the high numbers of intoxicated motorists driving on the roads, between 6 PM on December 31 and the early hours of January 1.  In 2008, 38% of pedestrians who were killed in accidents had blood-alcohol concentration levels of or above the .08% legal limit.

On New Year’s Day, pedestrians and drivers must take care to avoid accidents.  If you’re going to be walking on New Year’s Eve, make sure you wear bright reflective clothing.  Many pedestrian accidents that occur at night occur because a motorist failed to notice the pedestrian in black or dark clothing.  Pedestrians must also walk on sidewalks, and cross on marked and designated crosswalks only.  Walk in groups as much as possible.  Motorists may be more likely to spot pedestrians who are walking in large numbers, than a lone pedestrian.  Additionally, try to walk with at least one person who has not been drinking.

Drivers must look out carefully for pedestrians on New Year’s Eve.  Look out especially for pedestrians near restaurant areas, bar districts, and other places where there is heavy pedestrian traffic.  Again, expect pedestrians to be out walking under the influence, which will make them less likely to spot you or react in time.

If you’re throwing a party on New Year’s, be a responsible social host, and be sure that you help guests reach home safely after a party.  If you find that your guest is too drunk to walk home, or drive home, call a cab service, or make arrangements to have your guests sleep over at your place till the next morning.  In fact, San Diego car accident lawyers believe that hosts can do much to prevent accidents involving intoxicated drivers or pedestrians.

In 2010, there was an increase in the number of pedestrians killed in car accidents across the country, the first such increase recorded after 4 years of declines in pedestrian fatalities.  That is definitely a worrying thought to start 2012 with, and both pedestrians and motorists must work towards reducing these fatality numbers.

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