Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Michelle Obama's 'Get Moving' Program Linked to Pedestrian Deaths
WMAL ^ | 1/20/11 | Mark Weaver

Posted on 01/20/2011 5:40:29 AM PST by markomalley

The Governors Highway Safety Association says pedestrian deaths increased in the first half of 2010 and the First Lady's program to get Americans to be more active could be partly responsible.

Governors Highway Safety Administration spokesman Jonathan Adkins told 630 WMAL that Michelle Obama is "trying to get us to walk to work and exercise a little bit more. While that's good, it also increases our exposure to risk."

After four straight years of steady declines, pedestrian deaths were up during the first six months of 2010, the latest figures available to be studied.

Other factors include distracted drivers, distracted pedestrians and what Adkins calls "aggressive pedestrians."

"People who are not crossing where they are supposed to. They're running in front of cars. We've even had examples of pedestrians getting out on the interstate," said Adkins.

Alcohol is also factor in increased pedestrian deaths.

"We've done a good job of getting people, after a night out of partying, to leave their keys behind. But just because you are walking does not mean you are not at risk," said Adkins.

Pedestrians are also increasingly distracted by iPods and smart phones. It is not uncommon to see people crossing streets while fiddling with an electronic device and not watching where they are walking. Hospital emergency rooms have reported an upsurge of people injured in a fall because they were distracted by electronics.

Significant increases in pedestrian deaths occurred in Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, Oregon and North Carolina. In the DC Metro area, pedestrian deaths were down in Maryland but up in DC and Virginia.


TOPICS: Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

1 posted on 01/20/2011 5:40:30 AM PST by markomalley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: markomalley

This is right up there with the theory that Sarah Palin is responsible for the Tucson shootings. Is anyone responsible for their own actions anymore?


2 posted on 01/20/2011 5:44:46 AM PST by cantfindagoodscreenname (I really hate not knowing what was said in the deleted posts....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Sounds perfectly Darwinian. I’m all for it.


3 posted on 01/20/2011 5:45:15 AM PST by Wolfie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
B.S. More like texting and walking combined with driving and talking.
4 posted on 01/20/2011 5:45:27 AM PST by ladyvet ( I would rather have Incitatus then the asses that are in congress today.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
Hospital emergency rooms have reported an upsurge of people injured in a fall because they were distracted by electronics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCPiCeiM3Kc

5 posted on 01/20/2011 5:45:51 AM PST by JRios1968 (This is me, in a nutshell: "Let me out of here...I'm trapped in a nutshell!!!!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Outlaw walking!


6 posted on 01/20/2011 5:46:04 AM PST by RexBeach
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

In in true leftist style they’ll have to ban automobiles...


7 posted on 01/20/2011 5:46:18 AM PST by Soothesayer (smallpox is not a person)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

No comment.


8 posted on 01/20/2011 5:46:37 AM PST by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will, they ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

“what Adkins calls “aggressive pedestrians.”

I agree. I have had several near misses with these dudes that run across three lanes against the light instead of crossing with the light just 150 feet away. Usually there is more than one and you can’t tell which ones are going and which ones chicken out. Almost as bad as seeing three or four deers in the road ahead.


9 posted on 01/20/2011 5:46:51 AM PST by SeeSac
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ladyvet

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2660236/posts?page=5#5


10 posted on 01/20/2011 5:48:02 AM PST by JRios1968 (This is me, in a nutshell: "Let me out of here...I'm trapped in a nutshell!!!!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

And I bet some of them weren’t just walking, but were also chewing gum at the same time, so don’t put it all on Mooshell.


11 posted on 01/20/2011 5:48:25 AM PST by trailz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

“People who are not crossing where they are supposed to. They’re running in front of cars. We’ve even had examples of pedestrians getting out on the interstate,”

We have a big problem with this kind of situation in the SouthWest.

Wanna guess which group of people are well know for trying to cross by foot, an Urban interstate highway in the middle of the night????


12 posted on 01/20/2011 5:50:20 AM PST by Le Chien Rouge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
Hey MeeeeCheeeeel
People are getting run over because they can't find a JOB.
They can't find a job because your sorry ass husband is destroying the business climate. . . . .
Now go take another vacation and leave us alone
13 posted on 01/20/2011 5:51:13 AM PST by DeaconRed (Proof The Polls are a scam. There is No Way Zero has more than 12% approval.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cantfindagoodscreenname
This is right up there with the theory that Sarah Palin is responsible for the Tucson shootings. Is anyone responsible for their own actions anymore?

Well it seems obvious to me that Michelle Obama now wants to kill people.

/s
I agree, it's silly to connect those 2 factors.

14 posted on 01/20/2011 6:03:08 AM PST by MaryFromMichigan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

I heard that Moochelle wanted to call the program “Get Yo Ass Movin”, but was overruled by whitey.


15 posted on 01/20/2011 6:05:19 AM PST by Batman11 (Sarah Palin: "Illegal immigrants are called illegal for a reason!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Can’t wait for Mooch-ell to start exercising her Royal Hindness . . . It’s obvious that she’s getting to the table before Barry does.

Let’s see her practice what she’s preaching by coming down a few butt sizes. What an insufferable hypocrite!


16 posted on 01/20/2011 6:06:43 AM PST by laweeks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RexBeach

We need to outlaw the amount of steps people are allowed to take.

There’s no reason why a person should be allowed to take more then 30 or more steps at any one time, if we reduce that to a maximum of 10 steps then less people will get hurt. They’ll have to stop at 10 and then start again allowing other folks such as drivers etc to react quicker and save lives. Allowing 30 or more steps or more at a time will cause more deaths.

For those who actually don’t get this, it’s a parody on gun magazine capacities.


17 posted on 01/20/2011 6:10:57 AM PST by maddog55 (OBAMA, You can't fix stupid...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Le Chien Rouge

“Wanna guess which group of people are well know for trying to cross by foot, an Urban interstate highway in the middle of the night????”

Had a similar problem in my town where the kids were literally walking down the middle of the street on their way home from school. Just being arrogant mostly. Cars would have to practically stop and wait for them to get out of the road. The police finally told parents they would be ticketed if their kids were caught doing this.


18 posted on 01/20/2011 6:14:47 AM PST by happilymarriedmom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Le Chien Rouge

“Wanna guess which group of people are well know for trying to cross by foot, an Urban interstate highway in the middle of the night????”

Had a similar problem in my town where the kids were literally walking down the middle of the street on their way home from school. Just being arrogant mostly. Cars would have to practically stop and wait for them to get out of the road. The police finally told parents they would be ticketed if their kids were caught doing this.


19 posted on 01/20/2011 6:15:01 AM PST by happilymarriedmom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
It seems to be in vogue these days for teenagers to simply cross the street, not looking either way; essentially daring the oncoming car to hit him/her. I know I've had to slam on the brakes many more than a few times in order to avoid hitting someone. I don't know if they're gangbangers or not.

Maybe this type of thing is a contributing factor.

20 posted on 01/20/2011 6:15:21 AM PST by MichaelCorleone (Sarah Palin is America's Margaret Thatcher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson