The dark can be a dangerous time to walk, according to a recent New York Times report.

The increase in pedestrian fatalities at night, mainly since 2009, is a concerning trend that sets the country apart from others.

Unlike in comparable countries like Canada and Australia, a much higher share of pedestrian fatalities occurs at night in the United States. And these numbers have been steadily rising.

The reasons include factors such as the increased use of technology in vehicles, distracted driving, pedestrian behavior and the design of American roads.

As pointed out by New York lawyer William H. Cooper, who specializes in auto accidents, “It really is a perfect storm of factors working against pedestrians here, but when we layer on the distractions of technology and our inattentiveness, the results can be deadly.”

Technology is a dangerous double-edged sword. It has become an absurdist game of roulette between pedestrians and drivers — each of whom might be distracted by their phones. It takes seconds — not hours — of observation to see people in cities inattentively crossing streets while drivers, equally inattentively, text and surf the internet while operating vehicles.

The problem is exacerbated because pedestrians are more difficult to see at night, and our roads were not engineered with this risk in mind.

As the Times article explained, the Federal Highway Administration emphasizes that enhancing nighttime visibility where non-motorists mix with traffic during darkness will save lives. The FHA has been focusing on deploying measures to improve nighttime visibility and safety.

The reality is that better infrastructure and a transportation system that is intentionally safer by design, similar to what has existed for years in many European countries, could help mitigate this issue and save lives. The Times article and other sources have shed light on the factors contributing to this alarming trend, urging a new, comprehensive approach.

The other critical difference we control between daytime and nighttime pedestrian deaths is the actual purpose of being a pedestrian. Even with better crosswalks and far safer lighting, some nighttime pedestrian deaths are linked to the purpose of being out. Alcohol consumption can play a role, especially when not being fully aware of your surroundings is one factor that can put a pedestrian at risk of being hurt or killed while walking at night.

Aron Solomon is the chief legal analyst for Today’s Esquire. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.

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