Make Louisville a safe city for pedestrians! This is what the new safety program “Look Alive Louisville” is trying to accomplish. Last April, Mayor Greg Fischer launched this program to try and significantly reduce the number of pedestrian/vehicle collisions and pedestrian fatalities. During the press conference, Mayor Fischer noted that the local rate of pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 residents is 2.57, which is higher than the national rate of 2.33. He added that these numbers are not acceptable. The government wants to make Louisville one of the safest cities in the nation for pedestrians. “Look Alive Louisville” is primarily financed by a three-year $307,000 grant awarded last year by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Related: Louisville, KY – 17th Most Dangerous City for Pedestrians
About the “Look Alive Louisville” program
The program consists of a 13-week advertising campaign, a K-12 safety education component, an adult safety education component and training for Louisville Metro Police. Mayor Fischer also launched a contest to name the “Look Alive Louisville” mascot, which is a walking fleur-de-lis. You have until this Wednesday, May 6, to join. Simply submit your suggestion via Twitter to @louisvillemayor using the hashtag #lookalivename by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Statistics
- Louisville recorded an average of 16 pedestrian fatalities a year over a five-year period.
- Louisville ranked 19 on the list of top 20 cities with pedestrian deaths higher than the national average.
- Louisville has 404 pedestrian crashes annually. From 2006 to 2010, 82 people died and nearly 90 lead to injuries.
- About 40% of drivers involved in pedestrian crashes were speeding.
- Most pedestrian crashes take place in October on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Most pedestrian victims are ages 41 to 64.
Related: Kentucky Pedestrian Safety Tips
As a Kentucky Personal Injury Attorney, I commend Mayor Fischer for launching this pedestrian safety program. If properly implemented, this will definitely help reduce pedestrian injuries and deaths. I would also like to remind motorists of their responsibilities on the road. You can prevent crashes by staying focused while driving, watching for pedestrians at intersections and observing traffic signals. It’s also important for pedestrians to pay attention to their surroundings. You share the responsibility of making our roads safe. Be attentive and visible on the road, cross only at marked crosswalks and follow traffic signals. This combined with the “Look Alive Louisville” campaign, we will help our city decrease the amount of pedestrian accidents.