Walking is the oldest form of transportation and one that many Ohio residents rely upon every day whether for pleasure or out of necessity. Walking, however, is not without its dangers and a new study indicates these dangers may be particularly deadly for older Americans.

During a nine-year span roughly 47,400 pedestrians died after being struck by a motor vehicle. Of those individuals who died, the highest death rates were among elderly men and women. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, during 2011 there were an estimated 18 million Americans aged 75 and older. By 2040, that number is expected to reach 44 million. As millions of baby boomers age, states like Ohio must take steps to provide for their safety and wellbeing including when they are walking.

While overall elderly individuals do not walk as often or as far as younger individuals, they are typically in more fragile health. Therefore, when an elderly individual is hit by a car or truck, he or she is much more likely to sustain serious or even fatal injuries.

Certain physical ailments and limitations that come with age may also put elderly pedestrians at a greater risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident. Failing eyesight or hearing may impede an individual's ability to hear or see an approaching vehicle and physical ailments may make it difficult to avoid being hit.

Distracted and inattentive driving are largely to blame in many pedestrian and car accidents. In some cases, drivers also simply fail to give pedestrians the right of way. In other pedestrian accidents,  pedestrians who wear dark clothing at night or walk while intoxicated are to blame. In an effort to remain safe while walking, pedestrians should abide by the following safety tips.

• Wear reflective or light-colored clothing
• Use sidewalks. If no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic
• Avoid walking on heavily traveled highways or Interstates
• Use crosswalks and abide by traffic walk signals

Source: Inde Online, "Pedestrian death rate increases with age," Christina McCune, May 15, 2013