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Office of Highway Safety to survey public on pedestrian safety

Delaware Public Media

On Wednesday, a 14-year-old boy was struck and killed by a car in New Castle. That’s the seventh pedestrian fatality in 2016 in Delaware. 

Officials have said they plan to reach out to help educate the public on staying safe in the roadways.  

 

In 2015 36 pedestrians were killed in auto related accidents in Delaware, a number that’s been steadily increasing over the past three years.

 

Lisa Flowers with the state’s Office of Highway Safety (OHS) said these numbers reflect national data.

 

Flowers said her office wants to know why these deaths are on the rise and how can they be prevented.

 

“That is the golden question that we’re all trying to get answered. One of the things that we are going to be launching is a pedestrian survey,” Flowers said.

 

The survey, which launches in early May, will ask people if they use designated crosswalks or if they are using their phones while walking.

 

One of the biggest factors in pedestrian deaths is alcohol consumption, she said. 

 

According to OHS data, 75% of pedestrians killed last year were under the influence of alcohol.

 

Data from the survey should be available in June. 

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