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The number of pedestrians killed in the United States is the highest of the last three decades.
The statistics come from a preliminary report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association.
The life of four pedestrians was taken too early in central Pennsylvania in February alone.
A 70-year-old woman was beaten and killed on February 5th on Union Deposit Road in Lower Paxton Township. A 65-year-old woman was killed at the intersection of N7 and Dauphin streets in Harrisburg, another person was killed near an I-81 exit in Franklin County and on Thursday morning a 66-year-old man was killed near the Turkey Jill at the intersection of 4th and West State streets in Quarryville.
"The number of pedestrian deaths we are currently seeing is alarming," said Russ Martin, spokesperson for the Governors Highway Safety Association.
A preliminary report from the Governors Highway Safety Association estimates that 6,227 pedestrians were killed on US roads in 2018.
"This is the largest number of pedestrian deaths on an annual basis since 1990," explained Martin.
The report states that accident factors include light levels, locations, alcohol and drugs. He also says that more people are walking and driving bigger vehicles.
While major cities record the highest number of fatalities, Pennsylvania records the 7th highest annual increase between the first half of 2017 and the first half of 2018.
"You can spend months without them, then all of a sudden there is a group," said PennDOT spokesman Fritzi Schreffler.
At the local level, PennDOT reviews annual police reports on accidents and publishes its own report in the spring.
"We will look and see if there is a trend in what is happening. Is there a significant increase in what is happening? Is there anything that we can do from an engineering point of view first, "Schreffler said.
In the past, they had installed sensors to alert oncoming traffic when a pedestrian was crossing. PennDOT officials also used lights such as the one at the corner of Vaughn and N Front streets in Harrisburg to alert pedestrians.
When a motive can not be identified, the PennDOT pushes for education and stricter enforcement.
"I often tell people that it's a 50/50," Schreffler explained. "You blame motorists a lot because obviously, if it's the pedestrian who hits the pedestrian, it's a problem, but it's also up to the pedestrian to make sure that they're safe."
You can read the full report of the Governors Highway Safety Association here.
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