Pedestrians

Overview

Pedestrian motor vehicle crash deaths have increased 51 percent since reaching their low point in 2009 and account for 17 percent of crash fatalities. The rates of pedestrian deaths in motor vehicle crashes per 100,000 people are highest for people ages 70 and older.

Pedestrian deaths occur primarily in urban areas. Engineering measures that separate vehicles and pedestrians such as sidewalks, refuge islands, overpasses and underpasses, and barriers can reduce the problem. Increased illumination, improved signal timing at intersections, and beacons that alert drivers to stop at crosswalks when pedestrians are present also can be effective. Because traffic speeds affect the risk and severity of pedestrian crashes, reducing speeds can lower pedestrian deaths. Mead, J.; Zegeer, C.; and Bushell, M. 2014. Evaluation of pedestrian-related roadway measures: a summary of available research. Report no. DTFH61-11-H-00024. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration.

Vehicle factors also are important. Most serious injuries result from pedestrians hitting vehicle bumpers, hoods, or the windshield area. Serious head, pelvis and leg injuries are common, and the severity of such injuries may be mitigated through improved vehicle design. Daniel, S., Jr. 2004. The role of the vehicle front end in pedestrian impact protection. Pedestrian Safety (PT-112), 99-112. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers.In addition, some vehicles are equipped with crash avoidance technologies that detect pedestrians and may automatically brake the vehicle prior to impact.

The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Posted March 2021.

Trends

A total of 6,205 pedestrian deaths occurred in 2019. Pedestrian fatalities decreased 3 percent from 2018, but still account for 17 percent of all crash fatalities. Although pedestrian deaths were 17 percent lower in 2019 than in 1975, they have increased 51 percent since reaching their lowest point in 2009.

Pedestrian deaths and other motor vehicle crash deaths, 1975-2019

Pedestrian deaths and other motor vehicle crash deaths, 1975-2019
Year	Pedestrian deaths		Other deaths		All motor vehicle deaths
Year	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
1975	7,516	17	37,009	83	44,525	100
1976	7,427	16	38,096	84	45,523	100
1977	7,732	16	40,146	84	47,878	100
1978	7,795	15	42,536	85	50,331	100
1979	8,096	16	42,997	84	51,093	100
1980	8,070	16	43,021	84	51,091	100
1981	7,837	16	41,464	84	49,301	100
1982	7,331	17	36,614	83	43,945	100
1983	6,826	16	35,763	84	42,589	100
1984	7,025	16	37,232	84	44,257	100
1985	6,808	16	37,017	84	43,825	100
1986	6,779	15	39,308	85	46,087	100
1987	6,745	15	39,645	85	46,390	100
1988	6,870	15	40,217	85	47,087	100
1989	6,556	14	39,026	86	45,582	100
1990	6,482	15	38,117	85	44,599	100
1991	5,801	14	35,707	86	41,508	100
1992	5,549	14	33,701	86	39,250	100
1993	5,649	14	34,501	86	40,150	100
1994	5,489	13	35,227	87	40,716	100
1995	5,584	13	36,233	87	41,817	100
1996	5,449	13	36,616	87	42,065	100
1997	5,321	13	36,692	87	42,013	100
1998	5,228	13	36,273	87	41,501	100
1999	4,939	12	36,778	88	41,717	100
2000	4,763	11	37,182	89	41,945	100
2001	4,901	12	37,295	88	42,196	100
2002	4,851	11	38,154	89	43,005	100
2003	4,774	11	38,110	89	42,884	100
2004	4,675	11	38,161	89	42,836	100
2005	4,892	11	38,618	89	43,510	100
2006	4,795	11	37,913	89	42,708	100
2007	4,699	11	36,560	89	41,259	100
2008	4,414	12	33,009	88	37,423	100
2009	4,109	12	29,774	88	33,883	100
2010	4,302	13	28,697	87	32,999	100
2011	4,457	14	28,022	86	32,479	100
2012	4,818	14	28,964	86	33,782	100
2013	4,779	15	28,115	85	32,894	100
2014	4,910	15	27,834	85	32,744	100
2015	5,495	15	29,990	85	35,485	100
2016	6,080	16	31,726	84	37,806	100
2017	6,075	16	31,398	84	37,473	100
2018	6,374	17	30,461	83	36,835	100
2019	6,205	17	29,891	83	36,096	100

Twenty-one percent of pedestrian deaths in 2019 occurred in hit-and-run crashes.

Pedestrian deaths by hit-and-run occurrences, 2019
	Number	%
Not hit-and-run	4,908	79
Hit-and-run	1,290	21
Total*	6,205	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Age and sex

The rate of pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people decreased 46 percent from 1975 to 2019. The pedestrian death rate for children ages 0-12 decreased 93 percent from 1975. Children of these ages had the second-highest pedestrian death rate in 1975 but the lowest in 2019. The death rate for pedestrians 70 and older declined 74 percent from 1975. Pedestrians of these ages had the highest death rate every year since 1975, although the gap between older pedestrians and those ages 20-69 has narrowed considerably.

Pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people by age, 1975-2019

Pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people by age, 1975-2019
Year	<13 years			13-19 years			20-69 years			≥ 70 years			Total*
Year	Population	Number	Rate	Population	Number	Rate	Population	Number	Rate	Population	Number	Rate	Population	Number	Rate
1975	45,851,304	1,632	3.6	29,795,023	796	2.7	125,762,927	3,656	2.9	14,563,945	1,348	9.3	215,973,199	7,516	3.5
1976	45,000,704	1,522	3.4	29,909,414	855	2.9	128,164,926	3,678	2.9	14,960,120	1,291	8.6	218,035,164	7,427	3.4
1977	44,337,332	1,390	3.1	29,800,313	835	2.8	130,700,531	3,992	3.1	15,401,249	1,383	9.0	220,239,425	7,732	3.5
1978	43,907,467	1,419	3.2	29,543,252	868	2.9	133,257,285	4,160	3.1	15,876,541	1,214	7.6	222,584,545	7,795	3.5
1979	43,778,959	1,291	2.9	29,077,607	923	3.2	135,810,304	4,437	3.3	16,388,617	1,277	7.8	225,055,487	8,096	3.6
1980	43,914,342	1,183	2.7	28,486,487	906	3.2	137,925,913	4,461	3.2	16,897,977	1,344	8.0	227,224,719	8,070	3.6
1981	44,049,940	1,064	2.4	27,743,947	797	2.9	140,349,007	4,457	3.2	17,322,714	1,278	7.4	229,465,608	7,837	3.4
1982	44,131,596	986	2.2	27,160,586	793	2.9	142,588,426	4,293	3.0	17,783,888	1,124	6.3	231,664,496	7,331	3.2
1983	44,119,297	944	2.1	26,737,497	671	2.5	144,701,358	4,026	2.8	18,233,751	1,081	5.9	233,791,903	6,826	2.9
1984	43,978,044	935	2.1	26,435,885	615	2.3	146,747,916	4,180	2.8	18,662,938	1,164	6.2	235,824,783	7,025	3.0
1985	44,260,136	925	2.1	26,001,247	592	2.3	148,589,564	3,993	2.7	19,072,785	1,170	6.1	237,923,732	6,808	2.9
1986	44,755,454	913	2.0	25,592,481	584	2.3	150,321,426	4,005	2.7	19,463,480	1,157	5.9	240,132,841	6,779	2.8
1987	45,348,247	898	2.0	25,209,615	518	2.1	151,840,344	4,091	2.7	19,890,817	1,160	5.8	242,289,023	6,745	2.8
1988	45,942,966	905	2.0	25,004,445	487	1.9	153,249,145	4,108	2.7	20,302,280	1,271	6.3	244,498,836	6,870	2.8
1989	46,690,604	786	1.7	24,664,300	421	1.7	154,744,818	4,090	2.6	20,719,397	1,180	5.7	246,819,119	6,556	2.7
1990	47,472,527	768	1.6	24,404,795	423	1.7	156,422,791	4,019	2.6	21,164,283	1,195	5.6	249,464,396	6,482	2.6
1991	48,240,747	695	1.4	24,066,587	437	1.8	158,093,861	3,561	2.3	21,751,897	1,044	4.8	252,153,092	5,801	2.3
1992	48,903,668	635	1.3	24,163,175	376	1.6	159,641,639	3,487	2.2	22,321,217	997	4.5	255,029,699	5,549	2.2
1993	49,335,864	644	1.3	24,664,091	402	1.6	160,981,980	3,502	2.2	22,800,673	1,012	4.4	257,782,608	5,649	2.2
1994	49,692,462	659	1.3	25,219,838	355	1.4	162,170,876	3,409	2.1	23,243,845	1,021	4.4	260,327,021	5,489	2.1
1995	49,920,484	597	1.2	25,764,300	389	1.5	163,424,735	3,543	2.2	23,693,757	1,008	4.3	262,803,276	5,584	2.1
1996	50,085,188	570	1.1	26,357,198	362	1.4	164,729,863	3,509	2.1	24,056,323	951	4.0	265,228,572	5,449	2.1
1997	50,364,983	513	1.0	26,730,812	371	1.4	166,278,995	3,457	2.1	24,408,817	931	3.8	267,783,607	5,321	2.0
1998	50,527,476	464	0.9	27,174,728	351	1.3	167,752,248	3,399	2.0	24,793,551	965	3.9	270,248,003	5,228	1.9
1999	50,667,139	449	0.9	27,518,156	333	1.2	169,412,713	3,229	1.9	25,092,805	885	3.5	272,690,813	4,939	1.8
2000	52,219,423	403	0.8	28,326,412	337	1.2	176,086,448	3,169	1.8	25,559,879	807	3.2	282,192,162	4,763	1.7
2001	52,341,395	363	0.7	28,437,711	346	1.2	178,525,502	3,268	1.8	25,797,467	878	3.4	285,102,075	4,901	1.7
2002	52,332,306	317	0.6	28,644,313	353	1.2	180,959,275	3,291	1.8	26,005,326	845	3.2	287,941,220	4,851	1.7
2003	52,187,602	327	0.6	29,028,500	348	1.2	183,371,928	3,288	1.8	26,200,946	777	3.0	290,788,976	4,774	1.6
2004	52,151,406	293	0.6	29,400,392	305	1.0	185,766,088	3,273	1.8	26,337,518	763	2.9	293,655,404	4,675	1.6
2005	52,149,395	274	0.5	29,589,854	325	1.1	188,012,486	3,468	1.8	26,658,669	777	2.9	296,410,404	4,892	1.7
2006	52,306,908	267	0.5	29,772,198	314	1.1	190,434,580	3,465	1.8	26,884,798	707	2.6	299,398,484	4,795	1.6
2007	52,585,809	243	0.5	29,775,943	343	1.2	192,123,888	3,345	1.7	27,135,517	726	2.7	301,621,157	4,699	1.6
2008	52,929,779	215	0.4	29,710,307	320	1.1	193,898,604	3,246	1.7	27,521,034	603	2.2	304,059,724	4,414	1.5
2009	53,753,412	201	0.4	29,667,279	259	0.9	195,799,589	3,053	1.6	27,786,270	578	2.1	307,006,550	4,109	1.3
2010	52,943,218	212	0.4	30,324,338	295	1.0	197,645,261	3,150	1.6	27,832,721	628	2.3	308,745,538	4,302	1.4
2011	52,950,108	169	0.3	29,895,041	298	1.0	200,226,415	3,333	1.7	28,520,353	637	2.2	311,591,917	4,457	1.4
2012	52,872,572	208	0.4	29,632,228	289	1.0	202,241,237	3,593	1.8	29,168,003	707	2.4	313,914,040	4,818	1.5
2013	52,723,720	208	0.4	29,524,367	241	0.8	203,785,395	3,633	1.8	30,095,357	666	2.2	316,128,839	4,779	1.5
2014	52,666,129	167	0.3	29,469,473	267	0.9	205,803,509	3,699	1.8	30,917,945	729	2.4	318,857,056	4,910	1.5
2015	52,747,095	187	0.4	29,378,595	278	0.9	207,599,746	4,266	2.1	31,693,384	719	2.3	321,418,820	5,495	1.7
2016	52,767,670	198	0.4	29,359,997	322	1.1	208,835,491	4,669	2.2	32,442,777	822	2.5	323,405,935	6,080	1.9
2017	52,738,932	173	0.3	29,414,280	286	1.0	209,543,668	4,726	2.3	34,022,298	821	2.4	325,719,178	6,075	1.9
2018	52,561,486	165	0.3	29,421,179	252	0.9	209,840,469	5,003	2.4	35,344,300	911	2.6	327,167,434	6,374	1.9
2019	51,906,642	138	0.3	29,858,349	221	0.7	209,813,786	4,934	2.4	36,660,746	878	2.4	328,239,523	6,205	1.9
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Seventy percent of pedestrians killed in 2019 were males, a proportion that has varied little since 1975.

Pedestrian deaths by sex, 1975-2019
Year	Male		Female		Total*
Year	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
1975	5,196	69	2,319	31	7,516	100
1976	5,120	69	2,307	31	7,427	100
1977	5,331	69	2,400	31	7,732	100
1978	5,494	70	2,296	29	7,795	100
1979	5,701	70	2,391	30	8,096	100
1980	5,613	70	2,454	30	8,070	100
1981	5,459	70	2,332	30	7,837	100
1982	5,144	70	2,185	30	7,331	100
1983	4,775	70	2,050	30	6,826	100
1984	5,016	71	2,005	29	7,025	100
1985	4,671	69	2,133	31	6,808	100
1986	4,771	70	2,004	30	6,779	100
1987	4,777	71	1,967	29	6,745	100
1988	4,756	69	2,111	31	6,870	100
1989	4,594	70	1,959	30	6,556	100
1990	4,495	69	1,985	31	6,482	100
1991	3,985	69	1,815	31	5,801	100
1992	3,867	70	1,679	30	5,549	100
1993	3,936	70	1,711	30	5,649	100
1994	3,757	68	1,732	32	5,489	100
1995	3,856	69	1,728	31	5,584	100
1996	3,780	69	1,667	31	5,449	100
1997	3,643	68	1,677	32	5,321	100
1998	3,558	68	1,670	32	5,228	100
1999	3,466	70	1,472	30	4,939	100
2000	3,251	68	1,512	32	4,763	100
2001	3,421	70	1,479	30	4,901	100
2002	3,298	68	1,552	32	4,851	100
2003	3,274	69	1,499	31	4,774	100
2004	3,237	69	1,435	31	4,675	100
2005	3,450	71	1,441	29	4,892	100
2006	3,332	69	1,459	30	4,795	100
2007	3,288	70	1,411	30	4,699	100
2008	3,078	70	1,331	30	4,414	100
2009	2,827	69	1,282	31	4,109	100
2010	2,961	69	1,339	31	4,302	100
2011	3,102	70	1,354	30	4,457	100
2012	3,337	69	1,478	31	4,818	100
2013	3,277	69	1,496	31	4,779	100
2014	3,426	70	1,477	30	4,910	100
2015	3,832	70	1,654	30	5,495	100
2016	4,245	70	1,810	30	6,080	100
2017	4,234	70	1,812	30	6,075	100
2018	4,420	69	1,940	30	6,374	100
2019	4,344	70	1,853	30	6,205	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Alcohol

Forty-two percent of pedestrians 16 and older killed in nighttime (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) crashes in 2019 had blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) at or above 0.08 percent, compared with 61 percent in 1982. The rate of high BACs among pedestrians 16 and older killed in daytime (6 a.m. to 9 p.m.) crashes in 2019 was 23 percent, compared with 27 percent in 1982.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured pedestrians age 16 and older with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by time of day, 1982-2019
Year	Nighttime (9 p.m. - 6 a.m.)			Daytime (6 a.m. - 9 p.m.)
	Pedestrians killed	Estimated pedestrians killed with BACs ≥ 0.08		Pedestrians killed	Estimated pedestrians killed with BACs ≥ 0.08
	Number	Number	%	Number	Number	%
1982	3,033	1,861	61	2,911	783	27
1983	2,612	1,684	64	2,940	787	27
1984	2,668	1,665	62	3,046	750	25
1985	2,467	1,528	62	3,040	717	24
1986	2,505	1,523	61	3,004	694	23
1987	2,521	1,446	57	3,035	710	23
1988	2,515	1,475	59	3,148	674	21
1989	2,422	1,445	60	3,095	725	23
1990	2,431	1,486	61	3,029	633	21
1991	2,201	1,295	59	2,646	584	22
1992	2,040	1,215	60	2,673	636	24
1993	2,031	1,212	60	2,681	630	23
1994	1,945	1,091	56	2,659	615	23
1995	2,041	1,150	56	2,716	633	23
1996	2,025	1,165	58	2,624	627	24
1997	1,882	1,041	55	2,714	581	21
1998	1,899	1,054	55	2,666	608	23
1999	1,871	1,071	57	2,423	566	23
2000	1,743	992	57	2,416	529	22
2001	1,856	980	53	2,482	566	23
2002	1,893	997	53	2,447	576	24
2003	1,843	1,000	54	2,428	545	22
2004	1,845	997	54	2,372	523	22
2005	1,968	1,056	54	2,462	492	20
2006	1,999	1,093	55	2,353	548	23
2007	1,932	1,036	54	2,344	538	23
2008	1,846	983	53	2,204	553	25
2009	1,752	928	53	2,032	462	23
2010	1,822	942	52	2,143	456	21
2011	1,896	1,001	53	2,256	530	23
2012	2,043	1,052	51	2,437	564	23
2013	2,031	1,020	50	2,418	554	23
2014	2,112	1,026	49	2,491	562	23
2015	2,384	1,063	45	2,767	698	25
2016	2,682	1,206	45	3,018	750	25
2017	2,698	1,153	43	3,025	717	24
2018	2,922	1,237	42	3,167	772	24
2019	2,825	1,186	42	3,114	730	23

Where they died

Eighty-two percent of pedestrian deaths in 2019 occurred in urban areas, up from 59 percent in 1975.

Pedestrian deaths by land use, 1975-2019
Year	Urban		Rural		Total*
Year	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
1975	4,401	59	3,115	41	7,516	100
1976	4,409	59	3,013	41	7,427	100
1977	4,997	65	2,711	35	7,732	100
1978	4,934	64	2,748	36	7,795	100
1979	5,309	66	2,688	34	8,096	100
1980	5,279	66	2,698	34	8,070	100
1981	5,066	66	2,614	34	7,837	100
1982	4,809	66	2,455	34	7,331	100
1983	4,477	66	2,341	34	6,826	100
1984	4,660	66	2,360	34	7,025	100
1985	4,586	67	2,215	33	6,808	100
1986	4,580	68	2,197	32	6,779	100
1987	4,631	69	2,105	31	6,745	100
1988	4,650	68	2,216	32	6,870	100
1989	4,620	71	1,931	29	6,556	100
1990	4,619	71	1,855	29	6,482	100
1991	4,053	70	1,738	30	5,801	100
1992	3,923	71	1,597	29	5,549	100
1993	3,949	70	1,663	30	5,649	100
1994	3,934	72	1,543	28	5,489	100
1995	3,914	70	1,644	30	5,584	100
1996	3,838	71	1,596	29	5,449	100
1997	3,699	70	1,611	30	5,321	100
1998	3,584	69	1,611	31	5,228	100
1999	3,400	69	1,519	31	4,939	100
2000	3,298	71	1,376	29	4,763	100
2001	3,437	70	1,452	30	4,901	100
2002	3,421	71	1,418	29	4,851	100
2003	3,479	73	1,283	27	4,774	100
2004	3,393	73	1,274	27	4,675	100
2005	3,618	74	1,245	26	4,892	100
2006	3,521	74	1,234	26	4,795	100
2007	3,442	74	1,236	26	4,699	100
2008	3,184	72	1,210	28	4,414	100
2009	2,947	72	1,146	28	4,109	100
2010	3,129	73	1,146	27	4,302	100
2011	3,269	74	1,171	26	4,457	100
2012	3,541	74	1,267	26	4,818	100
2013	3,502	73	1,270	27	4,779	100
2014	3,806	78	1,092	22	4,910	100
2015	4,056	77	1,202	23	5,495	100
2016	4,783	79	1,256	21	6,080	100
2017	4,889	81	1,154	19	6,075	100
2018	5,222	82	1,122	18	6,374	100
2019	5,070	82	1,091	18	6,205	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Thirty-seven percent of pedestrian deaths among people 70 and older in 2019 occurred at intersections, compared with 23 percent for those younger than 70.

Pedestrian deaths by occurrence at intersection and age, 2019
	<13 years		13-19 years		20-69 years		≥ 70 years		Total*
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Non-intersection	103	75	168	76	3,801	77	555	63	4,653	75
Intersection	35	25	53	24	1,133	23	323	37	1,552	25
Total*	138	100	221	100	4,934	100	878	100	6,205	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Sixty-three percent of pedestrian deaths in 2019 occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways.

Pedestrian deaths by road type, 2019
Road type	Number	%
Interstates and freeways	956	15
Other major roads	3,891	63
Minor roads	1,307	21
All road types*	6,205	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In urban areas, 52 percent of pedestrian deaths in 2019 occurred on roads with speed limits of 40 mph or less; in rural areas, 17 percent of deaths occurred on such roads.

Pedestrian deaths by speed limit and land use, 2019
Speed limit	Urban		Rural		Total*
Speed limit	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
No limit	43	1	3	<1	58	1
<35 mph	972	19	66	6	1,057	17
35-40 mph	1,670	33	122	11	1,795	29
45-50 mph	1,170	23	186	17	1,356	22
55+ mph	942	19	678	62	1,620	26
Unknown	273	5	36	3	319	5
Total*	5,070	100	1,091	100	6,205	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

When they died

Twenty-five percent of pedestrian deaths in 2019 occurred in crashes between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. and 24 percent occurred between 9 p.m. and midnight.

Pedestrian deaths by time of day, 2019
Time of day	Deaths	%
Midnight - 3 a.m.	729	12
3 a.m. - 6 a.m.	660	11
6 a.m. - 9 a.m.	549	9
9 a.m. - noon	301	5
Noon - 3 p.m.	297	5
3 p.m. - 6 p.m.	572	9
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.	1,578	25
9 p.m. - midnight	1,493	24
Total*	6,205	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

The largest proportions of pedestrian deaths in 2019 occurred on Fridays and Saturdays (16 and 17 percent, respectively).

Pedestrian deaths by day of week, 2019
Day of week	Deaths	%
Sunday	786	13
Monday	836	13
Tuesday	820	13
Wednesday	814	13
Thursday	901	15
Friday	1,006	16
Saturday	1,042	17
Total*	6,205	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Pedestrian deaths in 2019 were most frequent in October, November, and December (10 percent each).

Pedestrian deaths by month, 2019
	Deaths	%
January	576	9
February	532	9
March	493	8
April	439	7
May	437	7
June	409	7
July	454	7
August	498	8
September	531	9
October	598	10
November	616	10
December	622	10
Total	6,205	100