Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs)
A vulnerable road user, or VRU, is at greatest risk for serious injury or death when they are involved in a motor-vehicle-related collision. Florida Statute 316.027(1)(b) – defines a VRU as:
- A pedestrian, including a person engaged in work upon a highway, or in work upon utility facilities along a highway, or engaged in the provision of emergency services within the right-of-way;
- A person operating a bicycle, motorcycle, scooter, or moped lawfully on the roadway;
- A person riding an animal; or
- A person lawfully operating on a public right-of-way, crosswalk, or shoulder of the roadway: 1) a farm tractor or similar vehicle designed primarily for farm use; 2) a skateboard, roller skates, or in-line skates; 3) a horse-drawn carriage; 4) an electric personal assistive mobility device; or 4) a wheelchair.
Children, the elderly, and the disabled are also categorized as VRU’s because of their susceptibility to injury or death when involved in a crash.
VRU Fatalities 2012 – United States and Florida
|
VRU Type |
U.S. |
% of Total |
Florida |
% of Total |
|
Pedestrians |
4,743 |
14% |
473 |
10% |
|
Cyclists |
726 |
2% |
116 |
5% |
|
Motorcyclists |
4,957 |
15% |
457 |
17% |
|
Total Fatalities |
33,561 |
2,430 |
/*! elementor – v3.6.2 – 04-04-2022 */
.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=”.svg”]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block} 
2012 U.S. Crash Fatalities / Rates
|
Age Group |
Crash Fatalities (U.S.) |
Fatality Rate per 100,000 Population |
|
< 5 |
405 |
2.03 |
|
5 – 9 |
345 |
1.68 |
|
10 – 15 |
613 |
2.47 |
|
16 – 20 |
3,224 |
14.82 |
|
21 – 24 |
3,436 |
19.05 |
|
25 – 34 |
5,902 |
13.95 |
|
35 – 44 |
4,534 |
11.19 |
|
45 – 54 |
5,184 |
11.71 |
|
55 – 64 |
4,297 |
11.14 |
|
65 – 74 |
2,692 |
11.22 |
|
> 74 |
2,868 |
14.97 |
|
Unknown |
61 |
2012 Florida Crash Fatalities / Rates
|
Age Group |
Crash Fatalities (U.S.) |
Percent Killed |
|
< 15 |
3 |
0.23% |
|
15 – 19 |
75 |
5.63% |
|
20 – 24 |
189 |
14.20% |
|
25 – 29 |
174 |
13.07% |
|
30 – 34 |
92 |
6.91% |
|
35 – 39 |
73 |
5.48% |
|
40 – 44 |
93 |
6.99% |
|
45 – 49 |
98 |
7.36% |
|
50 – 54 |
128 |
9.62% |
|
55 – 59 |
105 |
7.89% |
|
60 – 64 |
80 |
6.01% |
|
65 – 69 |
42 |
3.16% |
|
70 – 74 |
53 |
3.98% |
|
75 – 79 |
40 |
3.01% |
|
80 – 84 |
34 |
2.55% |
|
85 – 89 |
30 |
2.25% |
|
90+ |
22 |
1.65% |
