Road Users

National Safety Council analysis of NHTSA pedestrian traffic fatality data show a general decline in the number of pedestrian fatalities from 1994 through 2009. From 2009 through 2018, pedestrian fatalities trended up sharply. Since 2018, the number of pedestrian deaths has been relatively stable, while pedestrian deaths as a percent of all traffic deaths has declined slightly. Pedestrian fatalities as a percent of all traffic fatalities increased steadily from 2005 through 2018, from 11.2% to 17.3%.  Currently pedestrian fatalities as a percent of all traffic fatalities stands at 16.8%.

While pedestrians accounted for about 17% of traffic deaths in 2020, this percent varies by age. Pedestrians represent 20% or more of traffic deaths among 45- to 74-year-olds. The largest number of pedestrian deaths occur among 55- to 64-year-olds. While 5- to 9-year-olds experienced the fewest number of pedestrian deaths (51) in 2020, these deaths still represented 17% of all traffic deaths for this age group.

Alcohol impairment was a factor in 41% of all pedestrian fatalities in 2020, accounting for 2,647 deaths. The pedestrian is the only impaired individual 25% of the time, the driver is the only individual impaired 10% of the time, while both the pedestrian and the driver are impaired 6% of the time.

Because NHTSA pedestrian fatality data are limited to traffic crashes and do not include incidents occurring in driveways and parking lots, most pedestrians are struck by the front of the vehicle (83%). Only 1.3% of fatally injured pedestrians in traffic crashes are struck by the rear of the vehicle, while 3.0% are struck by the right side of the vehicle.

Source: NSC analysis of NHTSA FARS data