The number of pedestrian fatalities in the United States has grown sharply in recent years, according to a new report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
During the 10-year period from 2009 to 2018, the number of pedestrian fatalities increased by 53 percent (from 4,109 deaths in 2009 to 6,283 deaths in 2018). By comparison, the combined number of all other traffic deaths increased by two percent.
The report reveals that pedestrian deaths as a percentage of total motor vehicle crash deaths increased from 12 percent in 2009 to 17 percent in 2018. The last time pedestrians accounted for this proportion of total U.S. traffic deaths was over 35 years ago, in 1982.
“In the past 10 years, the number of pedestrian fatalities on our nation’s roadways has increased by more than 50 percent,” said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins.
“This alarming trend signifies that we need to consider all the factors involved in this rise, identify the high-risk areas, allocate resources where they’re needed most, and continue to work with local law enforcement partners to address the chronic driver violations that contribute to pedestrian crashes.”
The full report, including infographics and state-by-state data, is available at ghsa.org/resources/Pedestrians20.
