JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Duval County has placed among a list of pedestrian road accidents and fatalities, according to a report using Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles data.
About 25.1% of 2023 road fatalities in Duval County were pedestrians, report said, despite 2% of of total crashes involving pedestrians. That meant Jacksonville placed 10th in a list topped by Pinellas and Lafayette counties.
Other First Coast counties fared better with St. Johns County having 14.9% of road deaths involving a pedestrian and 1.8% of total crashes involving a pedestrian, Clay County had 15.1% of road deaths involving a pedestrian and 2.4% of total crashes involving a pedestrian. One of the lowest placing counties on the list Baker County having 0% of road deaths involving a pedestrian and 1.8% total crashes involving a pedestrian.
A spokesperson for group Injured in Florida said pedestrians should be vigilant when walking near roads because maintaining awareness enhances personal safety and respond to potential hazards, such as oncoming vehicles, changing traffic signals and unexpected obstacles.
Experts also offer some tips to prioritize safety, encouraging pedestrians to do the following:
- Stay visible: Wear bright or reflective clothing, especially in low-light conditions, to ensure drivers can see you.
- Use crosswalks: Cross streets at designated crosswalks whenever possible to increase safety.
- Avoid distractions such as smartphones and headphones while walking to stay aware of your surroundings.
- Make eye contact: Establish eye contact with drivers before crossing the road to ensure they see you.
- Walk facing traffic: If there is no sidewalk, walk facing oncoming traffic to see approaching vehicles.
