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Pedestrian deaths deserve a much deeper analysis the 2024 election may depend on the answer [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2023-06-24
Sam Baker (at AXIOS)
Most pedestrian deaths don't happen in intersections, and they're much more common on roads that don't have sidewalks. Speeding is a major factor, especially on smaller roads.
New Projection: U.S. Pedestrian Deaths Rise Yet Again in First Half of 2022
Governors Highway Safety Association
The data analysis found that the recent increase in pedestrian deaths is even more alarming when looking back to 2019, the last pre-pandemic year. Pedestrian deaths have surged 18%, or 519 additional lives lost, between the first half of 2019 and 2022. Nationally, there were 1.04 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people in 2022, up significantly from 0.90 in 2019. The data analysis was conducted by Elizabeth Petraglia, Ph.D., of research firm Westat. Why are more people walking dying on U.S. roads? A combination of factors, including a surge in dangerous driving that began at the start of the pandemic and has not lessened; larger, heavier vehicles that are more likely to seriously injure or kill people on foot in the event of a crash; roads designed to prioritize fast-moving traffic over slower speeds that are safer for pedestrians; and inadequate infrastructure such as sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting in many parts of the country.
The authors of the GHSA report have provided us with a prejudiced conclusion by asking a prejudiced question. That's understandable considering that GHSA, (Governors Highway Safety Association), is an organization that is tasked with the development of States level road safety solutions, and that this is a national phenomenon.
I live in rural Southwestern Louisiana and I drive into town each morning to the city park and walk. I have noticed a threefold increase in the number of pedestrians on this 7-mile stretch of highway since 2019. Until I saw the AXIOS headline, I had assumed it was because of the shortage and high prices of used cars and car insurance.
I am not aware of an increase in pedestrian deaths in my community.
I realize this is anecdotal, but “Why are more people walking on U.S., roads?,” seems to be a more appropriate question. The answer to that question may have a catastrophic effect on the 2024 Presidential election. Earlier I saw the diary Good economic news might finally be sinking in, by Kerry Eleveld, which was filled with the many accomplishments of the Biden administration. But many of the beneficiaries of those accomplishments are no better off than they were before, and in some cases they are worse off.
A poorly crafted 2024 message that does not recognize those who loss financial ground even after a new job and a pay increase, or those who are still suffering from COVID even though the pandemic is officially over, will do more harm than good.
There is a reason:
56% of voters still say the economy is getting worse, that's the lowest the number has bee n in over a year and a half.
Biden's numbers on the question of whether he's doing enough to create new jobs are the best of his entire presidency despite still being underwater at 39% yes-50% no
Our 2024 economic message must be addressed to the 99% who have yet to benefit from the Biden economy.
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[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/6/24/2177241/-Pedestrian-deaths-deserve-a-much-deeper-analysis-the-2024-election-may-depend-on-the-answer
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