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Pedestrians are projected to account for 16% of all traffic deaths in 2018, compared to 12% in 2008. While advancements in motor vehicle safety and technology have increased survivability for vehicle occupants involved in crashes, pedestrians remain just as susceptible to sustaining serious or fatal injuries when struck by a motor vehicle.
There are many causes behind the rise in pedestrian fatalities:
More walking has increased exposure, as one survey estimated that the number of Americans walking to work in the past week increased about 4% between 2007 and 2016;
Most pedestrian fatalities take place on local roads, at night, away from intersections, suggesting the need for safer road crossings. Over the past 10 years, nighttime crashes accounted for more than 90% of the total increase in pedestrian deaths;
Many unsafe driving behaviors, such as speeding, distracted and drowsy driving, pose risks to pedestrians, and alcohol impairment by the driver and/or pedestrian was reported in about half of traffic crashes that resulted in pedestrian fatalities in 2017;
The number of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) involved in pedestrian deaths has increased by 50% since 2013. By comparison, (non-SUV) passenger cars’ involvement in pedestrian fatalities increased by 30% over the same time period. Although passenger cars still account for most pedestrian deaths, SUVs – which generally cause more severe pedestrian injuries – make up an increasingly larger percentage of registered vehicles.
