Today's a dangerous day to be walking around outside.
More pedestrians have been killed on December 23 in traffic accidents than on any other day on the calendar, according to a recent analysis conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Records show that 753 pedestrians were killed on Dec. 23 over a 25-year period, according to the study. That puts it ahead of Jan. 1 (751 deaths) and October 31 (715 deaths) for the deadliest annual day.
Winter months are typically more perilous: Daylight is in shorter supply during typical commuting hours and snow and ice present hazards for drivers and pedestrians alike. The ten deadliest days in the study all fall between October and January.
This year, there may be more reason than ever for pedestrians to take caution. Overall traffic fatalities rose for the first time in seven years in 2012, but it's people outside vehicles, like pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists, who bore the brunt of that increase.
Pedestrian deaths rose 6.4 percent to 4,743 in 2012. It was the third consecutive year the death toll increased. More than 76,000 were injured.
Pete Bigelow is an associate editor at AOL Autos. He can be reached via email at peter.bigelow@teamaol.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
More pedestrians have been killed on December 23 in traffic accidents than on any other day on the calendar, according to a recent analysis conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Records show that 753 pedestrians were killed on Dec. 23 over a 25-year period, according to the study. That puts it ahead of Jan. 1 (751 deaths) and October 31 (715 deaths) for the deadliest annual day.
Winter months are typically more perilous: Daylight is in shorter supply during typical commuting hours and snow and ice present hazards for drivers and pedestrians alike. The ten deadliest days in the study all fall between October and January.
This year, there may be more reason than ever for pedestrians to take caution. Overall traffic fatalities rose for the first time in seven years in 2012, but it's people outside vehicles, like pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists, who bore the brunt of that increase.
Pedestrian deaths rose 6.4 percent to 4,743 in 2012. It was the third consecutive year the death toll increased. More than 76,000 were injured.
Pete Bigelow is an associate editor at AOL Autos. He can be reached via email at peter.bigelow@teamaol.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
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