Albuquerque has one of the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the country
Albuquerque officials are taking urgent steps to protect cyclists and pedestrians, as the city currently faces one of the highest pedestrian accident rates in the nation.
A new ordinance was created partly in response to a fatal bicycle accident earlier this year in Albuquerque, according to KOB 4 News. “This law honors Kayla, and every family who has endured the heartbreak of losing a loved one on our roads,” Albuquerque mayor Tim Keller said in an interview recently with KOB 4 News about the new road safety law.
What is Albuquerque’s new pedestrian safety law?
Albuquerque officials have updated the city’s traffic codes in an effort to make Albuquerque safer for pedestrians and cyclists, according to KOB 4 News. Such changes include:
- Requiring drivers to stop for vulnerable road users
- Giving cyclists the same rights as pedestrians.
- Allows cyclists to proceed through a red light if there’s no traffic, a practice known as an Idaho Stop.
These changes mark the first time Albuquerque has updated the city’s traffic codes since 1974. They were prompted by the death of Kayla Vanlandingham, a 19-year-old cyclist who died after she was hit by a car this past July, according to KOB 4 News.
How bad are pedestrian accidents in Albuquerque?
Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are very common in Albuquerque. In fact, Albuquerque has one of the highest pedestrian accident rates among cities in the country, according to a study by Smart Growth America.
Between 2018 and 2022, the pedestrian fatality rate in Albuquerque was 4.83 fatalities per 100,000 people, according to the Smart Growth America study. Only Memphis (5.14 pedestrian fatalities) had more pedestrian deaths during that time period.
Worst of all, pedestrian fatalities have only gotten worse in Albuquerque. In 2023, Bernalillo County, which includes Albuquerque, had 52 pedestrian deaths, according to the most recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data. That’s more pedestrian fatalities than any other year in recent years in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
Are bicycle accidents in Albuquerque a problem?
Unfortunately, the bicycle accident fatality earlier this year in Albuquerque wasn’t a fluke. Many cyclists are often hit by drivers while riding in Albuquerque. Specifically, more than half (53 percent) of bicycle accidents in New Mexico occur in Albuquerque, according to bicycle accident data from 2016 to 2020 collected by People Powered Movement.
During that period, Albuquerque averaged 188 bicycle accidents per year. And more broadly, Albuquerque had 941 bicycle accidents between 2016 and 2020, compared with 1,767 statewide.
Why are there so many bicycle and pedestrian accidents in Albuquerque?
Bicycle and pedestrian accidents in Albuquerque happen for many different reasons, including:
- Distracted drivers (especially texting drivers) who aren’t paying attention to other people on the road.
- Aggressive drivers who don’t follow the rules of the road, including leaving enough space for cyclists or not stopping at crosswalks for pedestrians.
- Speeding drivers who don’t have to stop and avoid a bicycle or pedestrian accident.
- Drunk drivers or drivers under the influence of drugs, who often cause pedestrian or bicycle accidents.
- Tired drivers who fall asleep at the wheel and hit a cyclist or pedestrian.
- Reckless drivers who turn without looking, often resulting in an intersection pedestrian accident or left-turn bicycle accident.
What else can be done to prevent bicycle and pedestrian accidents in Albuquerque?
There are many more things that can be done to prevent bicycle and pedestrian accidents in Albuquerque. This includes:
- Educating drivers about the importance of sharing the road with bicyclists, pedestrians, and other non-motorized road users.
- Increasing police enforcement, especially near schools or places where drivers often speed and cause pedestrian or bicycle accidents.
- Installing protected bicycle lanes and traffic-calming measures, such as speed bumps, encourages drivers to slow down.
- Making crosswalks more visible either with new paint or improved streetlighting.
Why should I hire an Albuquerque pedestrian accident attorney?
New laws can change behavior, but they can’t undo harm that’s already been done. Distracted driving, speeding, and impairment remain the leading causes of pedestrian and bicycle crashes in Albuquerque. When drivers fail to share the road, injured victims deserve strong legal protection.
An Albuquerque pedestrian accident lawyer at Szantho Law Firm, P.C. can help you every step of the way. If you were hurt in a pedestrian or bicycle crash, we can help you pursue accountability and work toward the maximum financial recovery you deserve.
Learn more about your legal options. Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation. Our office is conveniently located on Prospect Avenue NE in Albuquerque. We also have another office in Santa Fe. Best of all, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
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