AARP Connecticut Testifies in Support of Proposed House Bill for Pedestrian Safety

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AARP Connecticut provided members of the Connecticut Transportation Committee with testimony in support for the concept outlined in Proposed H.B. 5390, an act concerning the right-of-way at a crosswalk, on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017.

The testimony of AARP State Director Nora Duncan follows:

Dear Members of the Transportation Committee,

AARP is pleased to offer our support for the concept outlined in Proposed H.B. 5390, which would enhance pedestrian safety for individuals who step to a curb at a sidewalk.  

AARP is a nonpartisan, social mission organization with an age 50+ membership of nearly 38 million nationwide, and nearly 614,000 here in Connecticut. AARP fights for issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, family caregiving and livable communities. 

Walking is an important means of getting around for older adults. Unfortunately, it is also the most dangerous mode of travel on a per-trip basis.

Although only 10 percent of all local trips are made on foot, 12 percent of all traffic deaths involve pedestrians. The risk is even greater for older adults. People age 50 and older make up 32 percent of the population, but they accounted for 45 percent of pedestrian fatalities in 2011, according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Pedestrians 65 and older, who are struck by a motor vehicle, are 52% more likely to die than a younger pedestrian. 

AARP makes things better for society by supporting public policy that encourages safer streets for all users, regardless of their method of transportation. This proposal could improve road safety by requiring motorists to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians who step to the curb at a crosswalk. Improving curbside road safety is especially important for older residents who are disproportionately killed in pedestrian fatalities.

We look forward to working with the proponent of Proposed H.B. 5390 and the leadership of the Transportation Committee to further develop this concept. AARP has supported similar initiatives in New York last year, which could provide a model for the Connecticut proposal. A link to the NY proposal is available at: http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2513767&GUID=A9FE4C8E-FFBC-46D5-B03B-B27234A248A5&Options=Advanced&Search

Thank you