THE PEDESTRIAN DEATH EPIDEMIC CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS
Even though overall traffic deaths fell 6% from 2008 to 2017, the number of pedestrian deaths increased by 35% in that same time period, according to a recent New York Times article. In the past two years, that number has only increased further. The evidence clearly shows there is a problem. So, that leads to two important questions: (1) What is causing the increase in pedestrian deaths? and (2) What are some solutions? A recent study from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) cited a few potential causes, with some being more likely culprits than others. While older cities, like New York, were built with pedestrian traffic in mind, larger cities in the Sun Belt, like Los Angeles and Phoenix, were built for automobiles. Atlanta is a mix of both. Some city roads have become almost like freeways in terms of size
and speed of traffic, making them increasingly dangerous for pedestrians to cross. At the same time, SUVs and trucks, which are more likely to cause fatalities if they strike a pedestrian, are more popular among American motorists. According to the GHSA report, the number of pedestrian deaths involving SUVs has increased 50% since 2013. Other potential causes cited in the report include increases in drunk driving, smartphone usage, and population growth. Of all possible solutions, making transportation infrastructure more pedestrian-friendly seems the most intuitive. Florida has one of the highest rates of pedestrian deaths, so the state invested $100 million to improve lighting around streets to make pedestrians easier for motorists to see. The state has also made changes to its roadway design manual
to better account for pedestrian traffic. Improving safety technology in automobiles has also led to fewer pedestrian deaths. Reports from a nonprofit group showed that EyeSight, a collision-avoidance system in Subarus, led to 35% fewer pedestrian- related insurance claims. It appears that the problem is being acknowledged by parties with the power to enact solutions. But, in the meantime, five states are still responsible for almost half the pedestrian deaths in the U.S. — California, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and our own state of Georgia. If your family has been affected by this epidemic, give our office a call. We can ensure you and your family are fairly compensated.
TAKE A BREAK
(ALMOST) ANY-HERB PESTO
ChopChopFamily.org/recipe/almost-any-herb-pesto
INGREDIENTS
• 2 garlic cloves or scallions, peeled and sliced • 1 1⁄2 cups packed fresh herb leaves of basil, parsley, mint, or cilantro (or a combination) • 1⁄3 cup raw or lightly toasted almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, or pecans* • 1 cup grated Parmesan, Romano, or Asiago cheese, shredded cheddar, or crumbled feta or goat cheese
• 3⁄4 cup olive oil • 1⁄2 tsp kosher salt
DIRECTIONS
1. Put the garlic, herbs, and nuts in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, and process until well-chopped. 2. Add the cheese, oil, and salt, and process until smooth, stopping from time to time to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. 3. Use right away or transfer to a container, cover, and refrigerate up to 3 days. *To toast the nuts, put them on a small baking sheet in an oven at 350 F until they are fragrant and look a shade darker, 5–20 minutes depending on the type of nuts.
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