
Pedestrian deaths have not decreased in recent years, despite expectations that they might because of a general down-trend in traffic fatalities. From 2003 through 2012, 47,025 persons on foot died across our nation. These deaths represented 12.3 percent of all traffic fatalities over the decade. But in 2012 alone, 15 percent of all traffic fatalities were pedestrians. Actual walking traffic deaths in 2010 were 4,280; but by 2011, the number had increased to 4,432. It increased again in 2012 — to 4,743. In a more recent report spanning 2005 through 2014, Maryland ranked 15th among all states for pedestrian danger, with total pedestrian deaths of 1,053 resulting in a Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) of 77.8. Florida was No. 1 in pedestrian danger, with a PDI of 177 and 5,142 fatalities. (Higher PDI numbers mean greater danger.) Focusing locally, the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area ranked 55th in pedestrian danger out of 104 metro areas, with 470 deaths and a PDI of 65.7. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL, was first, with a PDI of 283.1 and 165 deaths. For all of these statistics, the age group most at risk was 65 and over. Technology to the Rescue Advances in technology have brought some possible[…..]