The Anne Arundel Fire Department reported that, on December 1st, an unidentified man died in a pedestrian crash.
First responders reported a man struck by an oncoming vehicle near Interstate-97 North in Glen Burnie, Maryland died at the scene. The driver remained at the scene of the accident, and no charges are filed. Notably, this collision occurred at 6:15 A.M. forty-five minutes before sunrise. Pedestrian accidents are more likely to occur with overall reduced visibility . According to the most recent data provided by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), three quarters of all fatal pedestrian accidents happen after sunset or before sunrise. This is an especially striking figure because there are far fewer cars, and far fewer people, out on the roads and sidewalks at night.
Darkness is far from the only factor that contributes to pedestrian accidents.
Higher collision rates coincide with poor weather. In addition, there are certain areas; particularly busy, crosswalk-free intersections, where the risk for pedestrian accidents is high. As explained by the Glen Burnie pedestrian accident lawyers at the Jaklitsch Law Group, “All motorists in Maryland have a legal obligation to look out for the health and safety of pedestrians. Indeed, the state of Maryland enforces strict laws that drivers must follow. When these types of crashes do occur the consequences can be truly devastating. Many pedestrian accidents result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities.”
There are approximately 90 fatal pedestrian crashes reported, in the state of Maryland, every year.
The most recent Glen Burnie accident marks the third deadly pedestrian crash, in three weeks, reported in Anne Arundel County. In mid-November, a 60-year-old man died in a pedestrian collision, in Pasadena. Meanwhile, another victim was 51-year-old man in Maryland City. State officials have worked on improving pedestrian safety in recent years. The Maryland Highway Safety Office (MHSO) has implemented a campaign called ‘Look Up, Look Out’. This initiative tries to create a partnership between drivers, law enforcement, and public officials to address pedestrian safety issues and to find workable solutions.
