As anybody who enjoys taking walks in densely populated areas is well aware, sometimes the people driving cars don’t seem to be paying that much attention. Or worse yet, seem to have an actual dislike or disregard for pedestrians… 🙁
So what can you do to make your walks safer? Be somewhat selective about when take a walk. According to research from IDV Solutions (and quite unsurprisingly), most fatal traffic accidents involving pedestrians occur right after sunset, during twilight/dusk. The chart below (also from IDV Solutions) illustrates this reality quite well — the relationship is uncanny, as the time of dusk changes throughout the year the peak of accidents shifts accordingly.
Grist provides more:
Right after sunset, when drivers are squinting from the light in their eyes, is when most fatal traffic accidents with pedestrians happen. John Nelson of IDV Solutions put together a chart illustrating this. Dark blue is the highest fatality rate. Time of day runs along the top, and months go down the side:
Although sunrise is also a dangerous time for pedestrians, dusk is clearly worse. In January, for example, 38 percent of traffic accidents between 6 pm and 7 pm involved pedestrians, compared to only 8 percent from 2 pm to 3 pm As sunset happens later during the year, the highest rate of pedestrian traffic deaths shift accordingly.
It’s worth noting, however, that dusk during the summer months isn’t as dangerous as winter — fatal traffic wrecks at sunset involved a pedestrian 38 percent of the time in December and January, but only 27 percent of the time in June and July. So be careful out there, whether you’re walking to the bus or driving home from work this winter!
While modifying your behavior simply to suit the incompetence of automobile drivers might seem a bit unpalatable, perhaps this is a situation where it might be for the best. :
Image Credit: IDV Solutions