Statistics show that in addition to fatal car crashes, sidewalk and cyclist accidents increased significantly in New York between 2016 and 2020. Unfortunately, 2021 is set to be another record-breaking year when the final tallies are made.
Identifying the source of increasing sidewalk and cyclist accidents
Multiple statistical analyses indicate increasing cyclist and sidewalk accidents, many of them fatal. Public health groups have started to explore the reasons for this troubling trend with the ultimate goal of reducing these types of accidents moving forward.
Many drivers flee the scene following these accidents. That’s why working together as a community to develop more awareness and better strategies to catch hit-and-run drivers is critical.
SUVs are particularly dangerous to pedestrians
Because they are larger and heavier, SUVs are increasingly understood to be particularly hazardous to the safety of New York’s cyclists and pedestrians. According to one report, the percentage of fatalities involving SUVs in New York City increased 55% for cyclists and 47% for pedestrians over the past several years. Conversely, the share of accidents involving sedans declined in that same period.
Data from the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration show that SUVs are 2.5 to 3 times deadlier when striking pedestrians than other vehicles. This has led many New York safety experts to label SUVs a significant public health threat, one that requires action by civil authorities to rectify. For example, the state legislature is considering new legislation called Vehicle Safety Rating and Labeling that would require car dealerships to place warning signs on SUVs they sell.
Protecting New York’s pedestrians and cyclists should be a top priority for local and state lawmakers to consider moving forward. Many people hope to see a greater investment in reducing these accidents by addressing their root causes, including limiting the sale and use of SUVs.