Although pedestrian fatalities declined 4% in Florida last year, the state still sees more pedestrian accidents and fatalities than much of the country. And Broward County has the second-largest number of pedestrian fatalities in Florida.
Obviously, more needs to be done to prevent pedestrian accidents in Broward County, Hollywood, and across southern Florida. According to authorities and safety experts, everyone has a role to play in preventing these types of collisions:
Florida has the unfortunate distinction of having a higher-than-average rate of fatal accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists. In the past few years, the state has gotten serious about making the roads safer for all users – including those on foot and on bikes – but progress will not happen overnight.
In the meantime, pedestrians and motorists both have a responsibility to prevent pedestrian accidents in Hollywood and across Florida. When walking, you can stay safer with these safety tips in mind:
Black Friday sales are almost here, and many Florida shoppers are already planning to take advantage of the bargains. The official start of the holiday shopping season, Black Friday sales are a big tradition at many retailers. Each year, however, they also cause injuries to store staff, customers, drivers, and pedestrians as everyone congregates on shopping areas for the deals. Here’s how you can avoid being in a car or pedestrian accident during one of the biggest retail events of the year:
Consider where you want to go, what routes you’ll drive, and what order you want to visit stores. Determine when you’ll need to leave home. Plan your route so you’re not driving during very heavy traffic (when your chances of traffic jams, car accidents, and general frustration are greater). Don’t assume you can get to all sales; pick one or two retail experiences you want to have and aim for those.
With Halloween only a week away, many parents are putting the finishing touches on Halloween costumes, are getting ready for Halloween parties, and are planning for a big night of trick-or-treating. While many parents have a plan in place to check over candy before allowing their children to eat it, candy is not the biggest hazard to your children this Halloween. Pedestrian accidents in Hollywood and South Florida are in fact a leading cause of concern.
Children out for Halloween may be interested in candy so much that they forget basic road safety rules. In some cases, if they are unsupervised, they may run out between cars or cross the street in a zigzag pattern, putting them at risk of car accidents. Dark costumes and darkened streets can also contribute to accidents.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reports that Florida is among the top states in the nation when it comes to pedestrian accidents. In fact, 27% of all traffic fatalities in the state involve pedestrian or bicycle accidents. Unfortunately, children and students can be especially vulnerable to these types of accidents, simply because they may bike or walk more often than adults.
According to safety experts, there are many things that can be done to reduce pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents in Miami and across Florida:
Your children are learning all sorts of useful things in school, but as a parent you are still your children’s most important teacher. One important thing you can teach your child is how to navigate traffic safely. Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents in Hollywood, Miami, and the rest of Southern Florida are an especially big risk for children. Children may act impulsively, may be harder to spot, and may not have the skills needed to cross streets safely.
As a parent, there are several things you can do to help your children:
If your child will be biking or walking to school this year, this is a good time of year to review your plan to avoid pedestrian accidents. Biking or walking to school gives your child the chance to exercise, get fresh air, and spend time with friends. However, it can also put them at an increased risk of pedestrian and traffic accidents. Each year, children are injured in pedestrian accidents in Hollywood and other South Florida communities, but there are ways to prevent these tragedies.
Here’s how to keep your child safe all school year long:
Florida cities have been ranked among the worst in the nation for pedestrians and bicyclists, and three years ago the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) responded with studies into road safety as well as potential design changes to make streets safer for all users. One of the changes Florida DOT is considering making is narrowing lanes. According to some experts, narrower lanes encourage drivers to slow down, which makes streets safer for pedestrians and bikers. In Miami Beach, Alton Road is one of the roads that is being redesigned with narrower lanes.
Traffic accidents in Miami Beach and other cities can occur due to busy downtown cores and due to suburban street design, which is often created for cars rather than pedestrians. One problem is that downtown urban streets are often designed with the same features as highways, which just encourage drivers to go faster. Part of the reason is because much of Florida was developed during the boom in the first few decades of the 20th century. At the time, there was less of a focus on walking and bicycling and more of a focus on making streets accessible to cars. Some communities were built largely for car traffic, with less thought to other forms of traffic.
Walking to school is a great way for children to get a measure of independence and exercise. However, walking to school in Homestead and other Florida communities can put children at risk of pedestrian accidents. There are many ways that you can help prevent this type of child injury in your community:
Children do not always remember to use crosswalks and do not always remember to check for oncoming traffic before stepping out on the road. Children are especially likely to be near school areas and parks before and after school, so stay extra vigilant in these areas and during these times of day.
Pedestrian accidents in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas have been a concern for some time. The city’s Las Olas Boulevard has especially been the site of a number of traffic accidents. A new initiative in the area is supposed to crack down on the number of pedestrians injuries – but does it send the wrong message about roadway safety?
The latest program asks pedestrians at the intersection of Las Olas Boulevard and Southeast 13th avenue to make eye contact with the driver when crossing the street and to wave one of the neon-orange flags provided at the intersection. The program is part of a test to see whether the flags will improve safety.
So far, only the one intersection in Fort Lauderdale has the flags and instructions on how to use them, but the flag system has been tried in other parts of the country. In two U.S. cities, communities eventually got rid of the flags after deciding that they were not helping prevent collisions.
Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog