At least 7,508 people were struck and killed by vehicles in the US last year – the highest figure since 1981, according to a new report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
The report also includes analysis of 2021 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which reveals the number of people killed while walking has increased 77 percent since 2010, compared to 25 percent for all other traffic-related fatalities.
“Every day, 20 people go for a walk and do not return home,” said GHSA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins.
“These are people living their daily lives – commuting to and from school and work, picking up groceries, walking the dog, getting some exercise – who died suddenly and violently.
“The saddest part is that these crashes are preventable. We know what works – better-designed infrastructure, lower speeds, addressing risky driving behaviors that pose a danger to people walking. We must do these things and more to reverse this awful trend and protect people on foot. Enough is enough.”
Fatality data for the report was provided by 49 states and D.C. Oklahoma did not provide data due to a technical issue, the association said.
