Pedestrian Safety Statistics: Trends by Year, State, Age, and More

In 2024, the most recent year for which there is federal data, 7,080 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes, accounting for 18 percent of the total traffic fatalities that year.¹ The national average pedestrian fatality rate stood at 2.08 per 100,000 residents.

The number of pedestrian deaths has increased substantially over the past decade and a half, with the largest year-over-year increases occurring in 2015 and 2021. However, pedestrian fatalities have declined nationwide since reaching a peak in 2022.

Comparing pedestrian deaths to overall traffic fatalities reveals a notable trend: pedestrian fatalities increased by 65 percent between 2010 and 2024, while overall traffic deaths only increased by around 19 percent.² Over this period, the data show that roads have become more dangerous for pedestrians overall.

When comparing pedestrian deaths across states, it’s more useful to consider the death rate, which accounts for the state’s population. For example, California recorded the most pedestrian fatalities in 2024, but it also has the largest population. When fatalities are measured per 100,000 residents, California falls to eighth on the list, although it remains among the states with the highest pedestrian fatality rates.³

New Mexico has the highest pedestrian fatality rate at 4.22 deaths per 100,000 people — more than double the national average. Mississippi and Louisiana follow with rates of 3.53 and 3.46, respectively. Notably, the top eight states are all in the South, Southwest, or West.

States With Largest Increases in Pedestrian Death Rates

In addition to looking at the states with the highest pedestrian death rates in 2024, examining how those rates have changed since 2010 provides another way to identify where pedestrian fatalities have increased most substantially.

New Mexico tops this list as well, with its pedestrian fatality rate rising from 1.60 deaths per 100,000 people in 2010 to 4.22 in 2024. Nevada, Mississippi, and Louisiana round out the four states with the largest increases.

Several states also saw large increases in their pedestrian fatality rates but do not rank among the 10 states with the highest rates in 2024. These include Missouri, Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, and Texas.

North Dakota and Wyoming have the lowest pedestrian fatality rates at 0.63 and 0.68, respectively. The top 10 states on this list also have regional similarities — they are all in the Midwest, West, or Northeast.

The age group with the highest pedestrian fatality rate in 2024 was adults ages 35 to 44, at 3.05 deaths per 100,000 people. Adults ages 55 to 64 had the second-highest rate.

Children had the lowest pedestrian fatality rates. Children ages 5 to 9 had the lowest rate, followed by children under age 5.

In 2024, the fatality rate for male pedestrians was more than twice the rate for females. The highest rate when broken down by both age and sex was among males ages 35 to 44. Their fatality rate was more than twice that of females in the same age group.

Examining pedestrian traffic deaths by day of the week and time of day reveals several clear patterns. According to NHTSA data, the largest number of pedestrian deaths in 2024 occurred between 6 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. on weekdays. The same time period on weekends accounted for the second-highest number of deaths.

The fewest pedestrian deaths occurred between 6 a.m. and 2:59 p.m. on weekends.

In general, pedestrian fatalities were much more common at night, with 76 percent of deaths occurring in the dark and 20 percent in the daylight. The remaining 4 percent occurred at dawn or dusk.

The time of day also varied by season. In spring and summer, the largest share of pedestrian fatalities occurred between 9 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. In fall and winter, fatalities were most common between 6 p.m. and 8:59 p.m.

The vast majority of pedestrian traffic fatalities in 2024 occurred in urban areas (84 percent) compared to rural areas (16 percent). In terms of crash location, 18 percent of pedestrians were killed at intersections, while 73 percent were killed at locations classified as not at an intersection.

Another 9 percent were classified as being in “Other” locations, such as sidewalks, bike lanes, medians, and shoulders, for which the data did not distinguish between intersection and non-intersection locations.

The most common vehicle type involved in pedestrian fatalities in 2024 was passenger cars, which accounted for around a third of pedestrian deaths in single-vehicle crashes where the first harmful events were collisions with pedestrians. SUVs accounted for a similar proportion of pedestrian deaths, followed by pickup trucks.

Together, SUVs and pickup trucks were involved in almost half of pedestrian deaths (45 percent), more than passenger cars. These larger vehicles pose a higher risk to pedestrians, in part because their taller front ends can increase the severity of pedestrian injuries.⁴

The proportion of pedestrian fatalities involving light trucks — a category that includes SUVs, pickup trucks and vans — increased from 43 percent in 2010 to 49 percent in 2024.

The latest NHTSA data shows that failure to yield the right-of-way was the most commonly reported factor in pedestrian fatalities in 2024, by a wide margin. Drivers are usually required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in most situations, but there are cases where pedestrians must yield to vehicles as well.

The second-most common factor was pedestrians improperly crossing roadways or intersections. Visibility was also identified as a factor, including pedestrians wearing dark clothing and inadequate lighting.

Drivers can save lives by taking precautions behind the wheel in areas with pedestrians.

• Slow down in areas with foot traffic — reduced speed gives you more time to react and significantly lowers injury severity if a collision does happen, especially near schools, residential streets, and downtown areas.
• Stop fully before turning right on red or crossing a crosswalk — many pedestrian collisions happen because drivers roll through while looking left for traffic and miss someone stepping off the curb to their right.
• Never assume eye contact means they’ve seen you — pedestrians (especially kids) can be distracted or misjudge your speed, so yield fully rather than proceeding on the assumption they’ll stop.
• Be extra cautious at dawn, dusk, and in bad weather — low visibility is a major factor in pedestrian accidents, so slow down and scan the roadside more actively during these conditions.
• Avoid distractions, especially near crosswalks and intersections — put the phone down and keep scanning the sides of the road, not just straight ahead, since pedestrians often enter your path from the periphery.

Pedestrians can take several steps to reduce their risk when walking near traffic. While these precautions cannot prevent every crash, they can improve visibility and give drivers more time to react.

• Use crosswalks and designated crossings. Whenever possible, cross streets at crosswalks or intersections, and follow pedestrian signals.
• Stay visible. If you’re walking at dusk or nighttime, wear reflective clothing and/or use a flashlight.
• Walk facing traffic when there is no sidewalk. On roads without sidewalks, walk on the shoulder and face oncoming traffic so you can see approaching vehicles.
• Stay alert. Avoid distractions such as using your phone while crossing the street, and stay focused on vehicles approaching from different directions.
• Be cautious around driveways and turning vehicles. Look for vehicles entering or leaving driveways and watch for cars turning across a crosswalk.
• Don’t assume a vehicle will stop. Even when you have the right of way, make sure vehicles have seen you and are slowing and stopping before stepping into the roadway.

Pedestrian fatalities nationwide increased by 65 percent between 2010 and 2024, although deaths have declined slightly since 2022. Fatality rates vary by state, sometimes significantly, with New Mexico recording the highest rate in 2024. Adults ages 35 to 44 had the highest fatality rate among age groups, while males had more than twice the rate of females.

Light trucks, including SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans, were the most frequently involved vehicles, and failure to yield the right-of-way was the most commonly reported factor. Pedestrians can take several measures to improve their safety, including crossing at designated crossings and avoiding distractions when walking on or near roadways.

We evaluated data from the following third parties to compile this report:

• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration