Walking in America has become a deadly gamble, as evidenced by the sobering statistic that 2022 saw 7,522 pedestrian lives lost in traffic crashes, a number that has surged 77% since 1980 and now represents nearly one-fifth of all U.S. traffic fatalities.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 7,522 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States, representing a 1.8% increase from 2021 and a 77% increase since 1980
- Pedestrian deaths accounted for 19% of all traffic fatalities in the US in 2022, up from 15% in 2019
- From 2018 to 2022, pedestrian fatalities in the US increased by 58%, reaching over 7,000 annually by 2022
- Over 130,000 pedestrians were injured in US traffic crashes in 2021
- Pedestrian injuries increased 52% from 2013 to 2021 in the US
- In 2022, approximately 60,000 pedestrians suffered serious injuries in US crashes
- Males aged 16-35 represent 40% of all pedestrian fatalities in the US
- Pedestrians aged 65 and older are killed at a rate 1.8 times higher than younger adults
- Black pedestrians have a fatality rate 2.1 times higher than white pedestrians per capita
- 68% of pedestrian crashes occur between 6 PM and 6 AM
- Urban areas account for 76% of all US pedestrian fatalities in 2022
- 54% of pedestrian deaths occur at non-intersections
- Driver distraction in 25% of pedestrian crashes at intersections
- Speeding involved in 29% of fatal pedestrian crashes in 2021 US
- Alcohol impairment in 52% of nighttime pedestrian fatalities
Pedestrian deaths in the US are rising alarmingly to over 7,500 fatalities a year.
Causes and Risk Factors
- Driver distraction in 25% of pedestrian crashes at intersections
- Speeding involved in 29% of fatal pedestrian crashes in 2021 US
- Alcohol impairment in 52% of nighttime pedestrian fatalities
- Large SUVs increase pedestrian death risk by 55% vs sedans at 40 mph
- Phone use by pedestrians in 17% of college campus crashes
- Failure to yield at crosswalks: 40% of intersection pedestrian crashes
- Dark clothing increases strike risk 6x at night without retroreflective material
- Drowsy driving in 13% of fatal pedestrian crashes per NHTSA
- Head-on impacts account for 60% of fatal pedestrian crashes
- Jaywalking contributes to 30% of non-intersection fatalities
- Vehicle blind spots cause 25% of parking lot pedestrian strikes
- Rain reduces visibility leading to 20% higher crash risk for pedestrians
- Aggressive driving in 18% of urban pedestrian fatalities
- Earbuds/ headphones in 14% of injured pedestrians self-reported
- Hitting pedestrian from behind: 35% of rural fatalities due to high speeds
- Red light running by drivers: 22% of intersection pedestrian deaths
- Obesity increases pedestrian injury severity by 25% per BMI unit
- No AEB in vehicles doubles pedestrian strike risk at night
- Pedestrian intoxication BAC>0.08 in 35% of fatal crashes
- Construction zones: 10% higher pedestrian crash risk due to detours
- Texting while walking: 66% slower reaction time per studies
- Heavy trucks blind spots cause 15% of worker pedestrian fatalities
- Poor road maintenance (potholes) in 8% of injury crashes
- Cyclist distraction mirrors pedestrian at 20% crash involvement
- Fatigue doubles crash risk after 17 hours awake for drivers hitting peds
- Illegal parking blocks sightlines in 12% urban crosswalk crashes
Causes and Risk Factors Interpretation
Behind the grim mosaic of these statistics lies a stark, shared truth: our collective inattention—be it behind the wheel, in a crosswalk, or in the designs we choose—is assembling a perfect, and perfectly preventable, storm of carnage on our streets.
Demographics
- Males aged 16-35 represent 40% of all pedestrian fatalities in the US
- Pedestrians aged 65 and older are killed at a rate 1.8 times higher than younger adults
- Black pedestrians have a fatality rate 2.1 times higher than white pedestrians per capita
- Hispanic or Latino pedestrians fatality rate increased 100% from 2010-2021
- Children under 15 account for 20% of pedestrian fatalities despite 19% population share
- Females comprise 28% of pedestrian fatalities but 50% of population
- Pedestrian death rate for ages 70-79 is 3.2 per 100,000, highest age group
- Native American pedestrians have 2.5x higher fatality rate than average
- Urban males aged 25-44 have pedestrian fatality rate of 2.8 per 100,000
- Low-income neighborhoods see 3x pedestrian death rates vs affluent areas
- Asian pedestrians have lowest fatality rate at 0.8 per 100,000 in 2021
- Pedestrians 80+ years have 10x higher death risk per crash than 20-29 year olds
- In 2022, 45% of killed pedestrians were walking for transportation, mostly low-income
- Male drivers hit female pedestrians 1.5x more often than female drivers
- Teens 16-19 have pedestrian injury rate 2x adults due to distraction
- Rural elderly pedestrians 65+ fatality rate 4.2 per 100,000 vs urban 1.9
- Black males 25-34 fatality rate 5.1 per 100,000, highest subgroup
- Immigrants in US cities face 2x pedestrian death risk due to walkability gaps
- Pedestrian workers (construction, etc.) 15% of fatalities despite 5% workforce
- Females under 15 have lower pedestrian death rate but higher injury severity
- Homeless individuals represent 5% of urban pedestrian fatalities
- White non-Hispanics 50% of fatalities but 60% population
- 62% of pedestrian fatalities occur in areas with high minority populations
- Pedestrian fatalities peak at ages 45-54 for males at 3.5 per 100,000
- Nighttime pedestrian deaths 75% male, daytime 55% male
Demographics Interpretation
These statistics reveal that American streets are an unequal and often unforgiving landscape where your risk of becoming a tragic footnote depends far too much on your age, your race, your income, and even the time of day you dare to walk.
Fatalities
- In 2022, 7,522 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States, representing a 1.8% increase from 2021 and a 77% increase since 1980
- Pedestrian deaths accounted for 19% of all traffic fatalities in the US in 2022, up from 15% in 2019
- From 2018 to 2022, pedestrian fatalities in the US increased by 58%, reaching over 7,000 annually by 2022
- In 2021, 7,388 pedestrians died in motor vehicle crashes in the US, a 55% increase from 2013 levels
- Nighttime pedestrian fatalities comprised 74% of total pedestrian deaths in the US in 2022
- In California, 1,236 pedestrians were killed in 2022, the highest in the nation, accounting for 16% of US total pedestrian fatalities
- Pedestrian fatalities in Florida reached 901 in 2022, second highest nationally
- Nationally, 77 pedestrians were killed per day on average in US traffic crashes in 2022
- From 1975 to 2022, pedestrian deaths per 100,000 population decreased by 59% in the US, but recent years show reversal
- In 2020, pedestrian fatalities surged 45% during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to 2019
- Elderly pedestrians (65+) accounted for 22% of pedestrian fatalities in the US in 2022 despite being 17% of population
- Children aged 5-15 had a pedestrian fatality rate of 1.2 per 100,000 in 2021
- Male pedestrians were 72% of all pedestrian fatalities in the US in 2022
- In urban areas, pedestrian deaths made up 75% of total pedestrian fatalities in 2022
- Alcohol involvement in 49% of pedestrian fatalities where the pedestrian had BAC >=0.08 in 2021
- Globally, 274,000 pedestrians died in road traffic crashes in 2019, 23% of all road deaths
- In low-income countries, pedestrians comprise 40% of road traffic deaths
- US pedestrian fatality rate was 2.0 per 100,000 population in 2022
- New York State saw 421 pedestrian deaths in 2022, highest per capita rate
- Pedestrian fatalities increased 10.5% in the first half of 2023 compared to 2022
- In 2022, 1,139 pedestrians were killed in crashes involving large trucks in the US
- Hispanic pedestrians had a fatality rate 1.5 times higher than non-Hispanics in 2021
- During 2020-2021, pedestrian deaths rose 31% in the US
- In 2019, 6,283 pedestrians died in the US, 17% of all traffic deaths
- Pedestrians in crosswalks were 39% less likely to be killed if drivers yielded, per IIHS study
- In 2022, Texas recorded 859 pedestrian fatalities, third highest nationally
- Pedestrian deaths at intersections accounted for 24% of total in 2021
- From 2000-2020, child pedestrian deaths decreased 52%, but adult increased 69%
- In Europe, 6,800 pedestrians died in 2021, 19% of road deaths
- US pedestrian fatalities per billion miles traveled was 1.49 in 2022
Fatalities Interpretation
While America's roads are statistically safer per capita than in the 1970s, the recent, sharp surge in pedestrian deaths—especially at night, in cities, and often involving alcohol—paints a grim portrait of a nation that has, quite literally, lost a step in protecting its most vulnerable travelers.
Injuries
- Over 130,000 pedestrians were injured in US traffic crashes in 2021
- Pedestrian injuries increased 52% from 2013 to 2021 in the US
- In 2022, approximately 60,000 pedestrians suffered serious injuries in US crashes
- Hospitalizations from pedestrian injuries cost $11 billion annually in the US
- Children under 15 comprised 10% of pedestrian injuries but 20% of severe cases in 2021
- Lower extremity injuries occurred in 65% of hospitalized pedestrian crash victims
- In 2020, pedestrian injury crashes rose 15% despite fewer overall crashes
- Head injuries account for 45% of pedestrian injury fatalities
- Annually, 5,000 US pedestrians suffer spinal cord injuries from crashes
- Female pedestrians had higher injury rates per crash than males in urban areas
- In California, over 15,000 pedestrian injuries reported in 2022
- Traumatic brain injuries from pedestrian crashes: 13,000 hospitalizations yearly
- Pedestrian injury rate per 100,000 was 18.5 in urban US areas in 2021
- Nighttime pedestrian injuries were 3 times higher than daytime per mile traveled
- Alcohol-related pedestrian injuries: 28% of cases in ER visits
- From 2010-2020, pedestrian injuries increased 77% in the US
- Intersection pedestrian injuries: 40% of total non-fatal injuries in 2021
- Elderly pedestrians (65+) had 4x higher severe injury rate per crash
- In 2022, Florida reported 12,000 pedestrian injuries
- Pedestrian crashes caused 70,000 ER visits for fractures in 2021
- SUV-involved pedestrian injuries rose 81% from 2000-2019
- Globally, 50 million non-fatal pedestrian injuries annually from road crashes
- US pedestrian injury costs total $19.2 billion yearly including medical and lost productivity
- Dark clothing contributed to 72% of nighttime pedestrian injuries
- In New York City, 25,000 pedestrian injuries in 2022
- Pedestrian injury fatality conversion rate: 10% of serious injuries lead to death
- Males accounted for 62% of pedestrian injuries in 2021 US data
- Children 5-9 years had highest pedestrian injury rate per population
Injuries Interpretation
Despite the grim predictability of these numbers, where a child's walk home is statistically a gamble and darkness itself seems to have declared war on shins, America's streets have somehow engineered a perverse success story, managing to hospitalize a small city's worth of people each year at a cost that could fund a moon shot, all while SUVs and intersections act as the unappreciated stars of this tragicomic national production.
Location and Time
- 68% of pedestrian crashes occur between 6 PM and 6 AM
- Urban areas account for 76% of all US pedestrian fatalities in 2022
- 54% of pedestrian deaths occur at non-intersections
- Friday and Saturday nights see 30% higher pedestrian crash rates
- Dark lighting conditions present in 69% of fatal pedestrian crashes
- Intersections host 26% of pedestrian fatalities but 70% of marked crosswalk deaths
- October to December: 35% of annual pedestrian deaths despite 25% of year
- Rural roads: 24% of fatalities but higher speeds involved
- 40% of crashes in residential areas, often backing up
- Evening rush hour 4-7 PM: 25% of daily pedestrian injuries
- States with high walkability like NY have 80% urban pedestrian deaths
- Winter months see 1.5x pedestrian death rate due to darkness
- Highway-rail grade crossings: 150 pedestrian deaths yearly US average
- 72% of nighttime fatal crashes had no street lighting
- Mid-block locations: 48% of non-intersection pedestrian fatalities
- Halloween night: 43% increase in child pedestrian injuries
- Commercial districts: 35% of pedestrian crashes during business hours
- Dawn and dusk hours: 20% of fatalities in 5% of daily miles
- Sidewalks absent in 60% of fatal rural pedestrian crash sites
- Weekends: 28% of weekly fatalities in 20% of travel time
- School zones: 12% of child pedestrian injuries despite short exposure
- 85% of pedestrian crashes in dry weather, but rain increases severity
- Parking lots: 7% of fatalities but 15% of injuries from low-speed
- 6-9 PM peak hour for 22% of nighttime pedestrian deaths
- High-speed arterials (>40 mph): 50% of fatalities despite 20% of walks
- Distracted walking peaks in urban shopping districts afternoons
Location and Time Interpretation
As the sun sets, the simple act of walking becomes a statistically perilous journey through a landscape seemingly designed by someone who forgot people have legs, demanding visibility, vigilance, and a radical reconsideration of how we share our streets.
Trends and Comparisons
- US pedestrian fatalities rose 77% from 2010 to 2022
- From 1975-2021, pedestrian deaths per capita fell 60% but spiked 50% post-2010
- SUV market share rise from 25% to 45% correlates with 30% pedestrian death increase
- Post-COVID 2020-2022: pedestrian deaths up 40% vs pre-pandemic average
- States with complete streets policies saw 15% lower pedestrian fatality rates
- Vision Zero cities reduced pedestrian deaths 25% over 5 years average
- AEB-equipped vehicles reduce rear crashes by 50%, including peds
- US rate 2.0 ped deaths/100k vs Europe 0.8/100k in 2021
- Child pedestrian deaths down 70% since 1990 due to safety campaigns
- E-scooter related pedestrian injuries up 55% 2018-2021
- Bike lane additions reduce adjacent ped crashes 19%
- Leading pedestrian interval signals cut crashes 30% at retrofitted intersections
- National speed limit drops 1995 correlated with 10% ped death decline
- Remote work 2020 reduced daytime ped crashes 20%, increased evening 30%
- HAWK signals reduce ped crashes 50% at mid-block crossings
- US vs Canada: 1.7x higher ped death rate per capita 2022
- Roundabouts cut ped crashes 40% vs signalized intersections
- Daylight saving time end increases crashes 6% next week
- Protected intersections reduce ped injuries 28%
- Global ped deaths down 10% 2010-2021 except Americas up 5%
- Raised medians reduce ped deaths 40% on multi-lane roads
Trends and Comparisons Interpretation
Despite decades of overall progress, the recent American road feels like a reckless negotiation where SUVs, speed, and distracted sprawl are outbidding safety campaigns, smarter street designs, and technology that we know works.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NHTSAnhtsa.govVisit source
- Reference 2IIHSiihs.orgVisit source
- Reference 3GHSAghsa.orgVisit source
- Reference 4CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 5CRASHSTATScrashstats.nhtsa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 6WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 7FMCSAfmcsa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 8ROAD-SAFETYroad-safety.transport.ec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 9NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 10NSCISCnscisc.uab.eduVisit source
- Reference 11FLHSMVflhsmv.govVisit source
- Reference 12NYCnyc.govVisit source
- Reference 13BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 14SAFETYDATAsafetydata.fra.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 15WORKZONESAFETYworkzonesafety.orgVisit source
- Reference 16SMARTGROWTHAMERICAsmartgrowthamerica.orgVisit source
- Reference 17VISIONZERONETWORKvisionzeronetwork.orgVisit source
- Reference 18ETSCetsc.euVisit source
- Reference 19FHWAfhwa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 20TCtc.canada.caVisit source