Motor vehicles share the roadways with pedestrians, bikers and those using other forms of transportation. Unfortunately, when an accident occurs involving a pedestrian, the pedestrian more than likely gets the worst of it. So far, 2018 has been a bad year for pedestrian accidents in Milwaukee. A group is trying to raise awareness about the accidents and encourage safe driving practices.

In 2018, there have been 12 pedestrians that have been killed in automobile accidents in Milwaukee.  To help raise awareness of this, a group, MilWALKee Walks, is placing memorials at the intersections where the accidents occurred. The group hopes to send the message of the dangers of speeding, distracted driving and failing to yield to pedestrians who are walking in intersections.  The group will continue to place the memorials throughout the month of September, until all the accident sites have had a memorial placed.

Pedestrian deaths from car accidents have decreased from this time in 2017. At this time in 2017, there had been 17 pedestrians deaths resulting from being struck by motor vehicles. Even though the number of pedestrian deaths has decreased, Milwaukee still is over-represented in the amount of pedestrian deaths. Milwaukee is home to 10 percent of the state’s population. Although Milwaukee only has 10 percent of the state’s population, it has 44 percent of the pedestrian fatalities.

The group hopes that their efforts will bring awareness to the risks one assumes when they do not practice safe driving. By ensuring that we travel the speed limit or at a speed safe for weather conditions, avoid engaging in distracted driving activities and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk, we can make the roadways safer for all.