Latest figures show 6,205 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in America last year – 44 percent more than in 2010.

Now the US Department of Transportation has announced its first ever comprehensive ‘Pedestrian Safety Action Plan’ in a bid to reduce the pedestrian injuries and fatalities on the roads.

“This unprecedented comprehensive safety effort is focused solely on protecting pedestrians because crossing a street should not be lethal for thousands of adults and children every year,” said US Transportation Secretary Elaine L Chao.

The work is being supported by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

According to NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 17 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2019 were pedestrians.

The new action plan will promote the expanded use of countermeasures, technology, and data-driven practices to address pedestrian fatalities and injuries.