People were driving much less last year because of the pandemic, but the cars that were on the road were more likely to hit and kill a pedestrian. Pedestrian deaths per mile driven soared.
Emptier roads meant more speeding, and the popularity of SUVs and pickup trucks make collisions with pedestrians more likely to be fatal. Essential workers who had to keep commuting are transit riders, pedestrians or bicycle riders and are more vulnerable to getting hit.
A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association found about a third of pedestrians were intoxicated when they were struck, and deaths are more common at night and in warm states.
Read the article at NPR.
