#295 ‒ Roadway death and injury: why everyone should care and what you can do to reduce risk | Mark Rosekind, Ph.D.

- Mark Rosekind, with over 30 years of experience in road safety, studies measures to mitigate accidents by focusing on risk factors such as impairment, distraction, and speeding.

- Roadway fatalities remain a persistent issue with over 42,929 lives lost annually, highlighting the need for continued safety efforts.

- Young and elderly drivers are the most at-risk demographics for road accidents due to factors like inexperience, cognitive decline, and decreased driving frequency.

- Alcohol-related crashes comprise about 30% of fatalities, a figure that has remained stable over two decades, while cannabis-related impairment on road safety is an emerging concern.

- Distraction from smartphone use is increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to accidents, potentially involved in up to 30% or more of roadway deaths.

- Pedestrians are advised to enhance visibility through measures such as wearing reflective clothing, especially at night when over 50% of pedestrian accidents occur.

- Defensive driving, including increased awareness at intersections and assuming other road users may be distracted or impaired, is crucial for both drivers and pedestrians.

- The development and adoption of autonomous vehicles may significantly reduce accidents but require a cautious approach, considering technological readiness and societal acceptance.

- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) such as automatic emergency braking can reduce accidents by compensating for human error and should become standard in vehicles.

- Parents should utilize contracts and graduated licensing to set safe driving expectations for teens, and teenagers should receive comprehensive driver education to enhance safety.