Editorial: Pedestrians beware

Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 | 9:24 a.m.

A Las Vegas Sun series in June revealed that our area is among the deadliest in the nation for pedestrians. Now a national study has made the same finding..

Researchers used per capita pedestrian deaths from 2002 and 2003 to compile a list of the 50 most dangerous areas in the country. Las Vegas ranked 11th.

In Metro Police's jurisdiction alone, 34 pedestrians have been killed so far this year, compared to 29 killed by this time last year. Clearly, the problem is growing, despite studies that have pinpointed the most dangerous intersections and ongoing efforts to establish new safety standards for streets and crosswalks. Voters have approved higher sales taxes for more police officers, so there's hope for more consistent patrolling of the more dangerous intersections.

We believe the best hope, however, is for the Legislature to tighten the laws governing auto-pedestrian accidents. Too often, drivers who fatally injure a pedestrian, even if they were speeding or drove through a red light or stop sign, receive only a traffic ticket. They need to know their carelessness will cost them greater penalties.

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