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Nevada pedestrian death rate increases 24 percent in 2016

Posted at 11:05 AM, Mar 31, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-31 14:18:38-04

Nevada barely escaped being in the top 10 for pedestrians killed by vehicles in the the first half of 2016, according to the latest report from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Nevada came in at number 11 with a rate of 1.05 per 100K population, which is an increase of 24 percent for the same time period in 2015.

Nevada's rate was 2.25 pedestrian fatalities per 100K population in 2015.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL REPORT

We had 31 traffic deaths in the first half of 2016 (January through June). In comparison, there were 25 during that same time period of 2015 for the state of Nevada.

More than 6,000 pedestrians died nationwide in 2015. In general, pedestrian fatalities are at an all-time high, increasing from 25 percent from 2010 to 2015.

And in 2016, the United States saw its largest annual increase in pedestrian fatalities since record keeping began 40 years ago.

TOP 5 STATES

  • California -- 405 deaths
  • Florida -- 277
  • Texas -- 242
  • New York -- 137
  • Georgia -- 90

Factors responsible for increase include thriving economy and distracted drivers and pedestrians. Wireless devices were named the number one distraction.

The report also says that alcohol involvement for the driver and/or pedestrian was reported in about half of traffic crashes that resulted in pedestrian fatalities in 2015.

34 percent of fatal pedestrian crashes involved a pedestrian with a BAC of 0.08 grams per deciliter or higher. 15 percent involved drivers with a BAC of 0.08 or higher

In addition:

  • 72 percent happened in travel lanes
  • 18 percent happened in intersections
  • 10 percent happened in non-travel lanes

The reports also says that about half of the pedestrian deaths in 2015 happened between 6 p.m. and midnight, with 74 percent occurring after dark.