DBS: pedestrians are the least protected road traffic participants

Lately there have been more and more road traffic accidents in which pedestrians were are either severely injured or killed, according to data compiled by ERGO insurance company based on MTPL applications for 2023.
Official state information indicates that there were more pedestrian victims last year. State Police reports that there were 781 road traffic accidents in Latvia involving pedestrians. This is 60 cases more when compared to the year prior. 30 of those accidents had a lethal outcome, the company reports.
Accidents on pedestrian road crossings, which are considered high-risk zones, happen both because of pedestrians’ recklessness and carelessness and because of motorists. Last year there were also multiple tragic road traffic accidents in which pedestrians were killed by drunk drivers.
“I truly want to believe this will not become a growing trend in Latvia. However, there are multiple examples that make us seriously consider the level of responsibility of motorists. In last year’s data we can see situations that weren’t previously observed in MTPL insurance claims – reckless, drunk driving resulted in the deaths of two mothers. In both situations drivers were drunk and did not have driver’s licence. One of them was driving a stolen car,“ ERGO Compensation Regulation Department director Sanita Rubene says.
In a different road traffic accident, one drunk driver hit a child on a pedestrian crossing. The boy was walking his dog. The child was hospitalised with various injuries, but the dog died at the scene. “In such cases, the insurer pays MTPL compensation to the victims or relatives of the deceased, but any driver who is driving under the influence of alcohol must remember that the amount of compensation under will later have to be enforced from them,” explains Rubene.
The biggest MTPL compensation paid by ERGO last year to a pedestrian was EUR 27 000 – after a car hit an old lady after colliding with another car.
According to data from State Police, last year there was an increase in the number of road traffic accidents involving pedestrians – 640. In 576 of them pedestrians were lightly injured, in 64 cases people received severe injuries. In 30 cases pedestrians were killed in road traffic accidents.
“In spring, with the start of the active cycling season, motorists have to be especially vigilant, because cyclists and electric scooter users use pedestrian crossings as well, and they can appear before cars very suddenly,” reminds Rubene.

Pedestrian – the least protected

Manager of Drošas Braukšanas Skola [Safe Driving School] (DBS) Jānis Vanks mentions this fact as the first one in relation to the mutual relationship between motorists and pedestrians: “Pedestrians are the least protected road traffic participants, and we have to keep in mind – even if the pedestrian has right of way, a pedestrian crossing is not a place to seek justice. People have to be careful and assess the situation, because collision with a car is very dangerous.”
Motorists have to keep in mind – the pedestrian crossing is a highly dangerous zone. When approaching it, they should lower their driving speed to make sure they have time to react if a pedestrian suddenly appears. “If a motorists runs over a pedestrian on a non-regulated pedestrian crossing, there won’t be any questions as to who will be to blame. It will be the motorist. This is why pedestrians and motorists should be careful.”
Vanks says that often pedestrians don’t have a driver’s licence, which means they don’t have any idea how the road looks from the perspective of the driver. Pedestrians often have no idea how quickly motorists can react and hit the brakes. “Look to your left, look to your right. If possible, make eye contact with the driver – this is the best way to safely cross the road that is not regulated by a traffic light.”
The safest way to cross the road on a bicycle is to get off the bike and push it across. “Getting off the bike gives the motorist additional time to notice the cyclist at the pedestrian crossing. A cyclist walking on the pedestrian crossing also has more time to react and get to safety in case of an emergency.”
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