Attorney
We have been blogging a lot recently about pedestrian safety in the D.C. area, as there has been a push to reduce the number of accidents.
Remember, the D.C. metro area has one of the worst pedestrian accident rates in the country, experiencing about one death per week. With this in mind, the Washington Post reported recently that some buses in Montgomery County now have automated systems alerting pedestrians around the bus about when it will make turns.
According to the Post, the alert is part of the county’s Ride On bus system. Officials are hoping that it will alert and alarm pedestrians who may be distracted around buses.
“Distracted walking has been implicated nationwide as one cause of pedestrian collisions and we hope these alerts will not only make pedestrians more aware of our buses, but will also serve as a reminder to drivers to double check for pedestrians when they are turning,” said Al Roshdieh, acting director with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, according to the Post.
The technology has been installed on four buses at a cost of just under $10,000. The newspaper reported that Metro had a similar pilot system on 10 Metrobuses in 2010, but decided not to expand the program.
Having an Attorney Investigate Pedestrian Safety in DC for an Accident
We certainly hope that this program helps reduce the number of pedestrian accidents in the area. Nevertheless, sadly, in some cases, there is very little a pedestrian can do to avoid being in a collision.
Remember, if you are ever struck by a reckless or distracted driver while you are walking, it may be in your best interest to speak to an attorney. You may be entitled to damages and you may be able to hold the driver and/or transportation provider liable.
Our firm has more than 30 years of experience working on behalf of those hurt by negligent drivers in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. For more information about vehicle accident and injury lawsuits, continue to follow our blog.
Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis L.L.P.
Washington, D.C. Injury Attorneys
Source: http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/03/11/md-man-charged-in-causing-i-95-tanker-crash/
Did You Know? A pedestrian that is struck by a vehicle traveling at more than 40 miles per hour has about a 90 percent chance of dying.