Drunk Bicyclist and Pedestrian Accidents

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) annual report on pedestrian safety projects an unprecedented 11 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities for 2016. Awareness and efforts to prevent DUI accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists are in the works throughout the United States to reduce the number of alcohol-impaired bicyclists and pedestrians injured in accidents.

How Can We Educate the Public About the Dangers of Alcohol-Impairment for Everyone?

The greatest impact for lowering pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities is through education.

  • Starting with our youth, educational programs in schools are teaching our youth not to condone drunk driving or ride with someone that you know is drunk. Adding education about the dangers of drugged driving, walking, and bicycling may help reduce the number of bicyclist and pedestrian deaths.
  • Social media and marketing have been successful in reaching the public to help people become socially aware about drinking and their responsibility not to get behind the wheel of a car. Adding more campaigns about drug-impairment may help.
  • State laws in place state that the minimum legal age to drink is 21 years of age.
  • If your blood alcohol level is at or above 0.08% a driver, pedestrian, or bicyclists is considered legally impaired to operate any type of mode of transportation and becomes at risk of drunken driving incidents.
  • It is important to know that drivers who consume alcohol or drugs are subject to sobriety checkpoints throughout the state. A driver can be required to submit to a breath test if suspected to be driving intoxicated.
  • If someone you know is struggling with alcoholism or drug related problems, intervene on their behalf and help them seek treatment.
  • Community efforts from local coalitions or prevention groups are influential in making a difference with awareness.

In 2014, more than one third of pedestrians and one fifth of bicyclists were killed in crashes were legally drunk. Death is an apparent effect of drunk driving. It is imperative that we begin to reach out to everyone to educate the public that it can be just as dangerous to be an alcohol-impaired pedestrian or bicyclist as it is to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

As drivers, bicyclists, or pedestrians, if you wish to party and drink, do so responsibly. Use public transportation or call a friend if you have had too much to drink. It is never a good idea to drive, walk, or bicycle when you are impaired by alcohol. Make it home safely; know that nothing is more important than that. Whatever it is, it can wait.

Do You Need an Erie DUI Accident Attorney?

Contact The Travis Law Firm toll free at (800) 401-2066 to schedule a free legal consultation with one of our attorneys. Being injured in a DUI accident can result in substantial physical, financial, and emotional damages. You have the right to hold the drunk driver responsible for your damages by filing an accident claim. Our Pennsylvania DUI accident attorneys can help you hold a driver responsible if that driver causes an accident while driving impaired by alcohol or drugs.