WELLINGTON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The number of pedestrians' deaths in road accidents has reached 28 since the beginning of 2017, an increase of 75 percent year on year, said a New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) release on Wednesday.
The number of pedestrians' deaths was 16 in the same period in 2016 and 18 in the same period in 2015, according to the NZTA.
A total of 244 people died in 220 fatal road crashes on New Zealand roads this year, which compares with 213 deaths in 180 crashes in the same period last year, the release said.
The most frequent pedestrian factors associated with fatal crashes are crossing the road heedless of traffic, wearing dark clothing, or being visibly intoxicated, according to the Ministry of Transport, which also said that unsupervised child is also a common pedestrian factor for those under the age of 18.
The highest numbers of child pedestrians are injured between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and adult pedestrians are injured in relatively steady numbers from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., the ministry said.
New Zealand police and the NZTA are undertaking a combined operation to raise awareness about the increased risks associated with winter driving, including people driving while fatigued or affected by alcohol, not wearing seatbelts, driving at unsafe speeds and failing to adjust to winter conditions, according to a police release.
