Louisville, Ky. – The Louisville Metro Police Department is launching a new campaign to prevent another deadly year for pedestrians. Thanks to a recent grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, LMPD’s first result is a new YouTube video video aimed at making both pedestrians and drivers more aware of their surroundings. (See video below).
In 2014, 429 people were struck by a vehicle and of those, 18 died. Sgt. William Patterson, the video’s host, said that translates to roughly one person getting hit every day of the year.
The video opens with a distracted driver striking a distracted Pleasure Ridge Park High School student on Greenwood Road, and the resulting aftermath of the accident.
“When we think of a pedestrian getting struck, we often think to blame the driver. In actuality, the pedestrian can be at fault,” Patterson said.
Of the 18 people who died last year, Patterson said 10 were actually the fault of the pedestrian. LMPD says the federal grant will be used for education as well as enforcement. LMPD says it’s ultimate goal is less accidents and no fatalities.
