2012

General Motors has taken WiFi to a whole new level. By allowing smart phones to communicate with one another, cars with the WiFi technology can detect pedestrians on the road, leading to a safer driving environment. While the technology itself is not unheard of, GM takes it a step further than everyone else by allowing… read more

The threat of distracted walkers is more apparent than ever.  According to the Governors Highway Safety Association’s deputy executive director, the issue is akin to the issue of cellphone usage in motor vehicles a decade ago.  Injuries to distracted pedestrians are four times as great as they were seven years ago, but underreporting has left… read more

As many more people turn to their bicycles as a safe and eco-friendly alternative to driving to work, it becomes ever more important to heed necessary precautions.  In North Bay, Ontario though, many bicyclists are increasingly riding on the sidewalk, prompting the local police department to announce a crackdown on such a practice.  The initiative… read more

With mobile phones more prevalent than ever, we as a society are becoming increasingly attached to our electronic devices.  By now, we’ve likely all heard about the dangers of texting while driving.  But a new report discusses how pedestrians in the process of texting can also cause serious injuries to themselves and others. Although many… read more

Pedestrian fatality rates continue to rise in the city of San Francisco.  In 2010, only 15 people died throughout the entire year, but that number increased to 17 in 2011.  Only halfway through 2012, the San Francisco Police Department reports that 10 pedestrians have already perished.  Although most fatal incidents involve motor vehicles, there have… read more

An advocacy group called East Brooklyn Congregations is leading the charge to improve street safety in the area of Ocean Hill in Brooklyn, New York.  Assisting their efforts are 50 senior citizens who are on the lookout for hazards that might compromise safety in the neighborhood.  82 issues have thus far been reported to the… read more

The city of Charlotte, North Carolina has seen an uptick in the number of vehicle accidents involving bicyclists and pedestrians.  Whereas in 2005, 454 cyclists or walkers were struck by an automobile, that number increased to 522 last year.  Officials attribute the rise in accidents to a similar rise in jaywalkers, distracted drivers, and roads… read more

In 2006, Indiana made the move to observing daylight saving time across the state, a switch that was criticized by critics who though kids walking to school in the relative dark would be put at risk.  However, the Journal Gazette examined data which showed the number of fatalities occurring in the dark morning hours declined… read more

In the town of Potsdam, New York, officials have initiated a campaign that aims to preserve pedestrian safety by increasing enforcement of crosswalk right-of-way laws.  The Potsdam Police Department will be issuing citations to motorists who don’t yield to people on foot.  Potsdam officials and the NYS Department of Transportation previously met to discuss how… read more

The Lincoln (Illinois) Courier features a post containing safety tips for runners. Some of the tips concern general safety when one is near moving cars, such as running against traffic and wearing reflective gear and an identification tag. Other tips pertain to situations in which one feels threatened by strangers.  Runners are advised to vary… read more

A recent poll from Consumer Reports shows that 85% of Americans had in the recent past seen an individual text or email while walking. 52% of those people reported that the distracted walkers were a danger to themselves and people around them. The number of pedestrian injuries due to distracted walkers seem to be on… read more

The Mazda MX-5 sportscar is going to be tweaked in time for release in England this year, and it hosts some new features that safety-conscious consumers might want to hear about.  There will be a new bumper design that aims to increase aerodynamics and protect pedestrians in the event of a collision. The throttle pedal… read more