The Number of Pedestrian Fatalities Remains High, According to a New Study

Sat, 3/17/2018 - 11:03 pm by Kirsten Rincon

The risk of injury and death for pedestrians has always been pretty high in the United States, and even though many states are taking actions to improve pedestrian safety, they remain one of the most vulnerable group of road users. A new report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) states that the number of pedestrian fatalities remains too high, despite a gradual decline in the past couple of years.

According to the study conducted by the GHSA, the number of pedestrians killed in the first 6 months of 2014 was 2,125, which was a 2.8%-drop compared to the same period in 2013, when a total of 2,141 pedestrians were killed on U.S. roads. Researchers expect the total number for 2014 will remain at pretty much the same level as it was in 2013, even though there was a slight drop in the first half of the previous year.

The study found that compared to 2009, when they were at an all-time low, the number of pedestrian deaths was expected to increase about 15 percent for 2014. “This is a clearly a good news, bad news scenario,” said Jonathan Adkins, GHSA Executive Director. “While we’re encouraged that pedestrian fatalities haven’t increased over the past two years, progress has been slow. Protecting pedestrians is a priority for GHSA and our members; we’re determined to drive the number down to zero.”

On the other hand, researchers say that there was a huge drop in pedestrian deaths between 1975, when 7,516 pedestrians were killed, and 2013, with 4,735 fatalities, which is pretty good news, but not good enough, considering that other traffic fatalities have declined far more drastically.

What’s more, the study breaks down the statistics for pedestrian traffic fatalities by state, finding that states with large urban centers and large populations are the states with most pedestrian deaths. Four of the country’s largest states – California, New York, Texas and Florida accounted for 43% of all pedestrian fatalities in 2013. As far as the rates of pedestrian deaths per 100,000 residents are concerned, Delaware was the worst, with 2.7, followed by Florida with 2.56.

On a more positive note, the study does show that there are a lot of states that saw a significant decrease in pedestrian fatalities in the first six months of 2014 over the same period of the previous year. Among the most notable examples cited in the report are District of Columbia, Washington, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, which have implemented various engineering and legislative solutions and launched education campaigns to improve pedestrian safety.

Finally, researchers point out that enhanced law enforcement, combined with an educational component, have proven to be the most effective measures for preventing pedestrian deaths. Stricter enforcement of specific traffic laws, including speed limits and traffic violation cameras to detect drivers running red lights, along with driver education, is aimed at changing motorists’ behavior and raising their awareness of pedestrian rights and safety needs, as well as reducing jaywalking.