Philly tackles alarming increase in pedestrian fatalities
Philadelphia is hoping that a $525,000 grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will help it reverse a three year trend of increased pedestrian fatalities. A total of 31 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes during 2012, representing 29 percent of the city's total traffic fatalities.
The city plans to use the funds in downtown areas by increasing police visibility and ticketing during high risk hours in 20 high-crash locations. The grant will also be used for marketing to reach pedestrians in these areas and to train officers on pedestrian safety. The NHTSA says research shows such safety campaigns significantly increase safer behavior by drivers, such as yielding appropriately to pedestrians.