(Media release from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety):
Rockdale County Sheriff’s Deputy Billy Burrell was looking forward to his friend and reserve deputy Walter Jenkins returning to the agency as a full-time deputy last year. The two had worked for years at College Park Police Department before joining the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office in January 2021 to start the agency’s Motorcycle Safety Unit.
Jenkins was hit and killed while directing traffic in a road construction work zone on May 11, 2022, less than a week before he was scheduled to return as a full-time deputy. Burrell remembered his friend during the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety’s National Pedestrian Safety Month kickoff Monday morning in Chamblee. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has designated October as National Pedestrian Safety Month with the goal to protect the most vulnerable road users by reminding everyone that we all pedestrians at some point during the day.
“Walter was wearing his bright yellow vest and using his light stick when he was hit,” Burrell said. “Road construction and maintenance take place every day and that is why drivers need to keep their eyes and attention on the road and to slow down when traveling through work zones.”
According to NHTSA crash data, the number of pedestrians killed in the United States has increased by almost 60 percent over the last ten years. There were 4,818 pedestrians killed in crashes in the U.S. in 2012 and 7,624 people were killed in pedestrian crashes in 2021. Pedestrian fatalities accounted for 18 percent of all traffic deaths in the United States in 2021 compared to 14 percent in 2012.
Pedestrian fatalities in Georgia increased by 83 percent from 167 in 2012 to 306 in 2021. Pedestrian fatalities accounted for 17 percent of the state’s total fatalities in 2021 compared to 14 percent in 2012. More than 80 percent of pedestrian fatalities in the state over the last ten years occurred during nighttime or low light hours.
Speeding is one of the contributing factors to the increase in pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. over the last decade. Driving at safer, slower speeds and paying attention to the road will help save lives and make it safer for those who walk for exercise or as their mode of transportation.
Safer people and safer speeds are two of the five principles of the United States Department of Transportation’s Safe System Approach along with safer roads, safer vehicles, and improved post-crash care. The Safe System Approach is based on mistakes are a part of human nature and using one or more of these five principles can save someone’s life when a mistake happens on the road.
“Whether it is crossing the street, walking in your neighborhood, or walking from your vehicle in a parking lot, we are all pedestrians at some point virtually every day,” Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety said. “Speed limits are set to protect everyone using the road and obeying speed limits will help to make sure all drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and others traveling on the road safely reach their destination everytime.”
“We are proud to partner with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to kick-off National Pedestrian Safety Month at our headquarters,” said Brian Quinlan, Chamblee Police Department’s Interim Police Chief. “The Chamblee Police Department strongly supports pedestrian safety within our community. By increasing patrols near crosswalks and cracking down on distracted driving, we aim to create a safer pedestrian environment and foster a culture of shared responsibility on the roads.”
NHTSA and GOHS remind drivers they can help prevent pedestrian deaths by slowing down and keeping their eyes on the road, especially when traveling in areas where people are walking such as schools, parks, and neighborhoods. Drivers are also reminded to look to make sure no one is crossing before turning.
Pedestrians should always follow the rules of the road and obey all traffic signals, cross streets at intersections where vehicles will have to stop for traffic signals and stop signs, look for vehicles in all directions before stepping into the roadway, and watch for cars that are exiting driveways or backing out of parking spaces,
For more information on pedestrian safety go to gahighwaysafety.org or NHTSA.gov.