Pedestrian traffic deaths on Cape Cod nearly double in 2021
Seven pedestrians died on the Cape this past year, more than double the average the Cape ordinarily sees. That increase mirrors a nationwide trend, said Mark Schieldrop of the AAA Northeast.
Overall, there were 19 deaths on the Cape due to traffic-related incidents, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. This is a significant increase from previous years. 2019 saw seven traffic fatalities on the Cape, while 2020 saw 12.
Surprisingly, the increase in traffic fatalities did not correlate with an increase in traffic crashes. The Cape had 4,682 crashes in 2021, which is below average, said Steven Tupper, transportation program director at the Cape Cod Commission.
While difficult to pinpoint why that is happening, Schieldrop said there are a few contributing factors: speeding, distracted driving (think cellphones) and drunken driving.
“It shouldn’t be that some sort of issue like a distraction becomes a fatality, when there’s not the right infrastructure out there to protect those vulnerable road users,” Tupper said.
Related: 'Relentless investigation': Yarmouth police ask for public's help in deadly hit and run
Related: Dorothy Henderson died crossing a busy Mashpee road. Her friends want safety improvements.
Related: Brewster man who died Saturday while walking on Route 6 was a kind, gentle soul
Why the increase in traffic fatalities?
Schieldrop looks at roads as a reflection of the way society is feeling. He said that people are tense and upset over what’s going on in the world, whether it's because of the pandemic or politics.
“People have a lot of pent-up feelings out there,” Schieldrop said.
He said that drivers can express these emotions on the road.
Tupper said that pedestrians became more vulnerable in 2021 after traffic had returned to some level of normalcy during the pandemic.
He also said that underlying factors on the road were contributors.
“We know there’s situations where pedestrians are currently not afforded the safe accommodations that they really need,” Tupper said.
He said that improving infrastructure to reduce traffic fatalities is a high priority for the Cape Cod Commission. The commission periodically publishes the top 50 crash locations on the Cape and looks at other systemic transportation problems.
He said that things like undivided highways need to be addressed, and accommodation for pedestrians and bicyclists needs to be implemented where conditions warrant it.
Projects to improve pedestrian safety
The Cape Cod Commission is currently looking to improve infrastructure along Route 28 and Route 6. Tupper said projects are in the works to make Route 28 better for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.
Brendan Kearney, deputy director of walkBoston, an organization aimed at making roads safer for pedestrians, said roads need to be made safe for all road users, not just drivers.
Shieldrop echoed that sentiment, saying that some cities around the world have re-tooled their infrastructure to welcome everyone who uses the road. He said that in many ways, the U.S. is designed around the automobile.
However, it isn’t always easy to ask people to change. Schieldrop said that while some communities may be willing to adjust, others may resist this change.
None of the experts use the word “accident,” when referring to collisions, as they believe that such crashes could be avoided by addressing underlying factors.
Despite the uptick in pedestrian deaths this year, Barnstable County remains the safest county for traffic fatalities, Tupper said. Nationally, Massachusetts is the safest state.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Pedestrian fatalities on Cape Cod increased 2021
