Annual Probability of Being Hit by a Vehicle as a Pedestrian

Pedestrian safety has deteriorated significantly in recent years. In 2022, approximately 7,508 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 104,000 injured in traffic crashes, according to NHTSA. Pedestrian deaths have increased by about 77% since 2010, even as overall traffic fatalities declined during much of that period.

Factors contributing to the rise in pedestrian deaths include the shift toward larger, heavier vehicles (SUVs and trucks are 2-3 times more likely to kill a pedestrian than cars), increased distraction (both driver and pedestrian phone use), higher vehicle speeds (a pedestrian struck at 40 mph has an 85% fatality risk vs 10% at 20 mph), poor road design (lack of crosswalks, sidewalks, and adequate lighting), and alcohol impairment (involved in about 50% of fatal pedestrian crashes).

Pedestrian deaths are not equally distributed: about 75% occur at night, about 80% occur at non-intersection locations, and low-income communities and communities of color experience disproportionately higher pedestrian fatality rates due to more walking combined with less pedestrian infrastructure. Solutions include road redesign (narrower lanes, raised crosswalks, pedestrian islands), lower speed limits, improved street lighting, and advanced driver assistance systems (automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection).