Walker Deaths Drop, But Hit-And-Run Crashes And Other Dangers Remain

Drivers struck and killed more than 7,000 people on roads in the United States in 2024, enough to fill 31 Boeing 737 passenger jets. It was a 4.3% decrease from the year before and marked the second annual decline, but pedestrian fatalities, which surged throughout the prior decade, remain nearly 20% above the 2016 level and reached a 40-year high in 2022.

And in the last ten years, there are “alarming trends” of walkers being killed in hit-and-run crashes, by SUVs and pickups, at night, and in places without sidewalks.

Those are some of the main findings of a new data analysis of pedestrian fatalities released Thursday by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), a nonprofit organization representing state highway safety offices.

“The second straight year of fewer pedestrian deaths is a step in the right direction, but much more must be done to protect people walking,” Jonathan Adkins, chief executive of the safety association, said in a statement.

The new report, “Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2024 Preliminary Data,” provides an overview of the contributing factors and trends, an examination of national data, and an initial look at state-by-state fatality statistics.

The report highlights how enforcement, data, technology, education, infrastructure and other known solutions are helping to improve safety, and recommendations on how to make the roads safer for people walking.

Some key findings and trends about pedestrian deaths from the report:

• One in four (25%) is the result of a hit-and-run crash. In these fatal hit-and-runs, the vehicle that struck the pedestrian was the fleeing vehicle the vast majority (94%) of the time.
• They are increasing at a rate far faster than overall traffic fatalities. Between 2009 and 2023, pedestrian fatalities rose a staggering 80%, while all other traffic fatalities increased 13%.
• The share caused by SUVs and pickups has surged in recent years. Light trucks accounted for 54% of pedestrian fatalities where a vehicle type was known in 2023, compared to 37% for passenger cars.
• More than three-quarters occur after dark. The share of nighttime pedestrian deaths has skyrocketed recently, nearly doubling from 2010 to 2023.
• Nearly two-thirds (65%) occur in locations without a sidewalk in 2023. Sidewalks are missing or in poor condition in many parts of the country.
• In 2023, nearly 1,200 people died on freeways and interstates, which aren’t designed for pedestrians. Stranded motorists exiting their vehicles, first responders and tow truck drivers are all examples of people killed on freeways. All states have Move Over laws to address this problem, but they are difficult to enforce.
• Alcohol impairment by both drivers and pedestrians is a significant concern. In 2023, 29% of pedestrians 16 and older killed in motor vehicle crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, and about 16% of fatal pedestrian crashes involved a driver with a BAC over 0.08.

“Now is the time to double down on what works – more and better infrastructure, enforcement to deter dangerous driving behaviors, engaged and informed communities, and vehicles designed to protect people on foot,” Adkins added. “An all-in strategy to address pedestrian safety will help us build on this recent momentum and save even more lives.”

For more information and to access the full report, click here and here.