Statewide Iowa (RI) — Today is National Walking Day, and while it’s chilly in Iowa now, warmer spring weather is coming, bringing more walkers on the roads and a higher risk of pedestrian crashes at busy intersections.
Brian Ortner at AAA Iowa says motorists and pedestrians both have responsibilities, and they need to be vigilant in watching for the other.
The Iowa DOT reports 460 crashes involving pedestrians last year. 29 of them resulted in deaths and 84 caused serious injuries. The number of pedestrian deaths has dropped slightly in recent years, from 33 killed in 2023 to 31 killed in 2024.
Ortner cautions pedestrians not to use headphones, or to at least position them so you can still hear your surroundings.
Motorists, too, need to be watchful at all times.
A report from the Governors Highway Safety Association finds that, of all pedestrian deaths nationwide in 2024, one in four involved a hit‑and‑run, three in four occurred after dark, and nearly two‑thirds happened in areas without a sidewalk.
KIWA Staff Photo
