The Las Vegas Strip is alive and bustling with bright lights and diversions of every kind. The downside to that is that it can be crowded, overwhelming, and sometimes dangerous. The streets are filled with vacationers trying to navigate the city, taxi drivers, and Uber and Lyft drivers. Sidewalks and crosswalks are traversed by mobs of people trying to take in the sights while finding their way to their destination. Sadly, motorists hit pedestrians all too often with tragic results.
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Pedestrian fatalities reached an all-time high in Clark County last year. According to the State Office of Traffic Safety and the Nevada Department of Transportation, 78 pedestrians were fatally struck by vehicles in 2017, up from 57 pedestrians killed the year before. Prior to that, the year 2015 held the record with 60 pedestrian deaths.
The city has passed initiatives to try to curb pedestrian deaths, but in the past few years, the numbers have gone up, not down, casting doubt on the effectiveness of the measures. That leaves the responsibility to pedestrians and motorists to be as responsible as possible in order to avoid tragedy.
Here are a few tips to help pedestrians stay safe on Vegas streets.
- Wear bright clothes and reflective materials. You are most vulnerable to pedestrian accidents at night when drivers can’t see you. Wear light-colored clothing that will make you visible to drivers as well as clothing or accessories with reflective materials.
- Avoid view-obstructers. Bushes, buses, and parked cars can all keep drivers from seeing you. Stand clear of them.
- Stay in designated walkways. That includes sidewalks and crosswalks. If there are no sidewalks, be sure to walk facing oncoming traffic.
- Obey traffic signals. Don’t be in such a hurry to cross the street that you push your luck with the flashing red hand or other “don’t walk” signals. Bending rules of the road can lead to tragedy.
- Make eye contact with drivers. Just because you are obeying rules or using crosswalks doesn’t mean that you will be safe, especially if you’re dealing with distracted motorists. Before you step off a curb and into a crosswalk, make eye contact with drivers to make sure that they see you.
- Eliminate distractions. Staying safe should be your top priority. If you are trying to get from point A to point B in Las Vegas, your cell phone and your music can wait. Put your phone away, remove your headphones, and use all of your senses to stay aware of your surroundings.
- Stay sober. We all know that drinking and driving is perilous, but drinking and walking can get you in trouble too, especially in a bustling urban area like the Strip. Don’t attempt to walk to your hotel if you have had too much to drink. Enlist the help of a sober friend or call a taxi.
Pedestrian accidents can be devastating, resulting in traumatic brain injury, spinal injuries, or death. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a pedestrian accident, contact Tingey Injury Law Firm. We can help you file a personal injury claim (or a wrongful death claim for a deceased loved one) and recover the compensation that you are entitled to so that you can focus on healing and moving forward. Whether you need a traumatic brain injury attorney or a wrongful death attorney in Las Vegas, we can help.