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A new pedestrian safety campaign from the Colorado Department of Transportation, kicked off earlier this month with a memorial at Union Station honoring the memory of the 76 pedestrians involved in fatal accidents last year.
A collaborative effort with the Denver Streets Partnership, the memorial featured 76 pairs of shoes representing the 76 pedestrian lives lost in 2019, all placed in two rows outside of Union Station.
The “Left Behind” campaign seeks to increase awareness about pedestrian safety in an effort to decrease the number of pedestrian accidents in Colorado. “Left Behind” is a reference to articles of clothing and other personal belongings that often are separated from their owners in these types of accidents, due to the impact of the motor vehicle.
The main focus of the campaign are billboards, bus and railway signs that will be visible around the Denver Metro and Colorado Springs areas, displaying belongings left behind after a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian.
One of the billboards displays a tennis shoe that was actually left behind during a crash in 2019, complete with realistic shoelaces extending from the billboard.
According to Sam Cole, CDOT’s Traffic Safety Manager, “During the summer months more people are out walking, so it’s important we all use extra caution and do our part to ensure everyone gets home safely.”
So far this year, there have been 47 fatal pedestrian accidents in Colorado, with El Paso being the county with the most fatalities at 9 so far this year.
According to a report last year from the Governors Highway Safety Association, across the country, fatal pedestrian accidents appear to be increasing, with the number of fatalities nationally up 41% from just 2008.
The report names a number of factors as possible reasons for the disturbing increase, and unsurprisingly, distracted driving is named as a major cause.
CDOT’s Safety Recommendations
CDOT provides a number of helpful safety reminders for both pedestrians and drivers, aimed at helping make sure we all get where we’re headed safely.
For drivers:
- Don’t drive distracted – This piece of advice is often stated, but often ignored. Don’t let your smartphone keep your eyes away from the road, but also remember that eating, putting on makeup or fiddling with your radio can also be distracting and dangerous behaviors.
- Don’t speed – Keeping your speed down gives you more time to react in unexpected situations. But, the results of accidents that occur at lower speeds are also better than the results of accidents at fast speeds. Don’t rush your way into an accident.
For pedestrians:
- Use crosswalks – Drivers expect to see pedestrians in crosswalks and other similarly marked areas. By jay walking or cutting across the middle of the street, you increase the chances that a surprised driver might not be able to react in time to avoid a tragic accident.
- Make eye contact – When crossing (at a crosswalk of course), be sure to make eye contact with the drivers of the vehicles around you, and confirm that you are visible to them. Never assume that someone can see you, just because you can see them.
For both drivers and pedestrians:
- Follow the rules of the road! Traffic laws are in place in order to try and help keep everyone safe. Drivers need to obey the rules, but so do pedestrians. Stick to the speed limit, cross at designated areas, and use your smartphone responsibly.
Further Reading: Colorado Springs Police Officers Injured in High Speed Chase
Contact Our Colorado Springs Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Today
Have you been injured by the actions of a negligent driver? Are you concerned you won’t have the money to pay medical bills and lost expenses? If so, you need an experienced Colorado Springs pedestrian accident attorney on your side to help you fight for justice.
Contact the dedicated attorneys of the Green Law Firm, P.C. today by calling (719) 694-8515, or by filling out the contact form on this website, and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.