Factors Contributing to the Windy City’s Unacceptably High Fatal Pedestrian Accident Rate
In 2021, there were more pedestrian accidents than this country had seen in the past 40 years, with rates continuing to rise another 5% in the first six months of 2022 alone. In the past three years, pedestrian fatalities have risen 18% or nine times the population growth rate in the United States. Read, “Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2022 Preliminary Data,” published by the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (“GHSA”) on February 28, 2023.
Pedestrian accidents are becoming commonplace. A recent Consumer Reports survey found that a staggering 20% of Americans were involved in a pedestrian accident or had a family member who was hit by a car in 2022. For details, read “Americans Are Concerned About Pedestrian Safety and Want Technology to Prevent Crashes,” written by Keith Barry and published by Consumer Reports on March 1, 2023.
From GHSA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins:
There is a pedestrian safety crisis on our roads, and it’s only gotten worse since the start of the pandemic. A single roadway death is tragic. But it’s absolutely mind-boggling and heartbreaking that drivers are killing an average of 19 pedestrians every single day. The only way to reverse this awful trend is to do more of everything that works – more and better designed infrastructure to keep people walking safe, equitable enforcement of traffic safety laws to stop dangerous driving and engaging more communities where the impacts of this crisis are felt the hardest.
With these results, it is no surprise that Chicago pedestrians face a high risk of being hit by a motor vehicle and suffering severe or fatal bodily injuries. The reality that 2023 news reports have Chicagoans dying in a pedestrian accident every week is sobering. Read, Chicago Pedestrian Accidents: How Dangerous Are Chicago Streets?
There are several factors that contribute to Chicago being so very dangerous for pedestrians of all ages. Consider the following:
Pedestrian Focus: Chicago Ranks as One of the U.S. Most Walkable Cities
Chicago consistently ranks as one of the Most Walkable Cities in the United States. In 2017, the Windy City was in the Top Ten; in 2022, it ranked 12th for its “Walk Score” of 77.
These Walk Scores are tallied and used by Redfin.com to compare urban areas and communities for their walkability. Walk Scores are used by professionals, like real estate agents, to distinguish different properties for their ability to provide individuals with ease of access to grocery shopping, parks, restaurants, common areas, and other places by pedestrian access.
Any neighborhood in Chicago, the rest of Illinois or the state of Indiana, can be checked for its Walk Score on the online Walk Score database.
Chicago currently has a Walk Score of 77, a Bike Score of 72, and a Transit Score of 65. According to the site, “Chicago is the 4th most walkable city in the US with 2,695,598 residents.”
Therefore, one factor in the high pedestrian accident risk in Chicago is its high walkability. The metropolis is dedicated to making our neighborhoods more walk-friendly and easier to use without needing a motor vehicle. More people walking in the city increases the opportunity for a pedestrian accident.
Chicago Roads: Most Dangerous in 2022 Urban Traffic Study
Compare this to the second factor in the pedestrian accident crisis in Chicago: Chicago is confirmed to be very dangerous for motor vehicle accidents. In fact, according to a recent study by Inrix, Chicago had the most intersection motor vehicle accidents compared to five other metro areas, which all exceed the national average of 40%. Chicago surpassed Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. in the study. Read, “Chicago has most unsafe roads in Inrix five-city report,” written by Tom Stone and published by Traffic Technology Today on October 11, 2022.
Where is the risk of an accident the highest? Inrix found the most dangerous intersection in Chicago to be South Rockwell and West Cermak Road, with North Fairbanks Court and East Erie ranking second and West Diversey coming in as the third most dangerous. See, “Inrix: City Crash Rates,“ written by Bob Pishue, Transportation Analyst and published in October 2022, page 4.
Accordingly, a second factor contributing to the great danger facing Chicago pedestrians is the city’s preeminence as one of the most dangerous urban areas for motor vehicle accidents, especially at intersections.
Ignoring State Law: Drivers Must Completely Stop (and Yield) to Chicago Pedestrians
A third contributor to the plethora of severe or deadly pedestrian accidents in Chicago is the obvious disregard by drivers of state laws designed to protect pedestrians from being hit by a car, delivery truck, SUV, semi, or minivan.
Under Illinois state law, as explained by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias on the ILSOS.gov website:
Drivers and pedestrians both are responsible for traffic safety. Drivers should always be prepared to yield the right-of-way and should not drive unnecessarily close to pedestrians.
When approaching a pedestrian with a disability who is utilizing a guide dog, a white cane, a wheelchair or other assistive device on a sidewalk or roadway, the pedestrian has the right-of-way and is granted the same rights as any pedestrian.
A driver must come to a complete stop (and yield):
When a pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk.
On school days, when children are in close proximity to a school zone crosswalk.
A driver must yield to a pedestrian.
When a pedestrian is in an unmarked crosswalk on the driver’s side of the roadway and there are no traffic control signals.
When making a turn at any intersection.
When making a lawful turn on a red light after coming to a complete stop.
After coming to a complete stop at a stop sign or flashing red signal at an intersection.
When a pedestrian enters a crosswalk before the traffic light changed.
When a pedestrian is walking with a green light, to a walking person symbol or a walk signal.
When a pedestrian is leaving or entering a street or highway from an alley, building, private road or driveway.
When a pedestrian is entering an intersection with a flashing yellow arrow.
For instance, an elderly woman using her walker and crossing a Chicago street at a crosswalk has the right-of-way because of (1) her “assistive device” as well as (2) being in the “marked crosswalk” as she walks from one side of the street to the other.
Thus, a third contributing factor to the high risk of pedestrian accidents in the Chicago area is clear: Chicago drivers often disobey existing state laws established to protect pedestrians from harm.
Victims of Chicago Pedestrian Accidents
Several factors are working together to fuel the rising number of Chicago pedestrian accidents, among them: (1) Chicago’s walkability; (2) Chicago’s dangerous roads, especially its’ intersections; and (3) the failure of drivers to obey existing state laws designed to protect pedestrians from harm.
The epidemic of fatal pedestrian accidents in the Chicagoland area must be addressed. Public awareness must increase for both drivers and pedestrians. Lawmakers must work together to make our streets safer for pedestrians.
And, when there is a serious or deadly pedestrian accident, justice can be sought through Illinois personal injury and wrongful death laws in our civil courts. Illinois laws create legal duties for the drivers that define legal liability should they fail to obey them with a fatal pedestrian accident as a result.
For more, read:
- Fatal Pedestrian Accidents: Risk of Pedestrian Death Breaking Records
- Deadly Pedestrian Accidents: Risk of Fatal Pedestrian Collision is Highest in Past Three Decades
- Take a Walk in Indiana and Illinois and Risk Dying in a Pedestrian Accident
- Danger of Fatal Child Pedestrian Accidents as Kids Go Back to School.
Chicago streets must be safer for both adults and children who are taking advantage of the Windy City’s walkability. Things must change to reduce the risk of a life-changing pedestrian crash. Please be careful out there!
