High Percentage of Washington D.C. Deaths Were Pedestrians

A new report shows that more than half of those killed in traffic accidents in the nation’s capital in 2010 were pedestrians.

The report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that of the 24 traffic fatalities in the District of Columbia in 2010, 13 were pedestrians, or 54 percent. Nationally, 4,000 pedestrians died in traffic accidents in 2010, or 13 percent.

In Maryland, 20.5 percent of traffic fatalities were pedestrians. In Virginia, it was 9.9 percent – below the national average.

The report says three-quarters of pedestrian fatalities happened in urban areas.

Nationwide, alcohol was a factor in 47 percent of fatal accidents.