Car crashes killed one pedestrian every two hours in 2012

There's a reason more and more cities are eyeing initiatives to curb speeding and improve street safety. For the third straight year, pedestrian fatalities from traffic accidents rose nationwide in 2012, according to a new report from the Department of Transportation.

A reported 4,743 pedestrians were killed in auto crashes in 2012 — that's one every two hours. Meanwhile, another 76,000 were injured, which translates to one every seven minutes.

Interestingly, the DOT's report cautions pedestrians to be more vigilant and visible so they won't get run over. And though it urges drivers to follow the most basic rules of the road — like "stop for pedestrians in crosswalks" — it says nothing about distracted driving. I'd be curious to know how many accidents are caused annually by drivers looking away from the road to check their phones and pose for ill-advised selfies.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up