There are over four million car crashes every year in the United States. The most recent complete dataset (2023) confirms that 37,654 fatal crashes killed 40,901 people. Of those fatalities, 7,314 were pedestrians: that’s 17.9% or almost 1 in 5, a significant proportion.
This study will pinpoint America’s most hostile pedestrian states. We’ll also consider the vehicle types most often involved in crashes that lead to pedestrian fatalities, and the main causes. Additionally, we’ll offer a closer look at Washington-specific data.
Firstly, let’s look at which months are the worst for pedestrian fatalities in the U.S.
Pedestrian Fatalities: Key Figures, States, and Causes
The Worst U.S. Month For Pedestrian Fatalities
The high annual number (7,314 in 2023) of pedestrians who lose their lives in motor vehicle crashes emphatically highlights their vulnerability. Yet fatality rates rise and fall from month to month, revealing clear seasonal patterns and a pronounced increase toward the end of the year.
December was the deadliest month of the year: 741 pedestrian fatalities represented 10.1% of all pedestrian deaths in 2023. November (733 deaths, 10%) followed by October recorded 712 pedestrian deaths, 9.7% of the annual total.
Combined, the final three months of the year accounted for 2,186 pedestrian deaths, nearly 30% of the year’s pedestrian fatalities.
January’s 659 pedestrian fatalities (9% of the annual total) makes it one of the deadliest months outside the final quarter. February (605 deaths, 8.3%), March (575 fatalities, 7.9%), and April (516 deaths, 7.1%) numbers mark a continuing early-year decline in pedestrian fatalities, extended further by May (503 deaths, 6.9%) and June (490 deaths, 6.7%), which marks the year’s lowest monthly total.
This mid-year decline can be partially attributed to longer daylight hours, improved driver visibility, and comparatively favorable weather conditions, all of which help to create safer driving and walking environments.
However, this gradual downward trend abruptly reverses during the summer months. The July pedestrian death rate rose (to 538, 7.4% of the annual total), with August (596 fatalities, 8.1%) and September (646 pedestrian deaths, 8.8%) continuing the upward trajectory before the final quarter fatality peak.
Several well-established environmental, behavioral, and seasonal factors contribute to this sharp end-of-year increase in pedestrian fatalities. One is the reduction in daylight hours, particularly following the end of daylight saving time in early November.
With sunset occurring earlier in the evening, a larger portion of both pedestrian activity and vehicle traffic takes place in darkness or low-light conditions, significantly reducing driver visibility and reaction time.
Studies have consistently shown that pedestrians are far more likely to be struck and killed after dark than during daylight hours, with drivers less able to detect pedestrians, especially in areas that lack adequate street lighting.
Additionally, the fall and winter months mean challenging weather conditions: rain, fog, snow, and icy road surfaces, all of which reduce visibility, increase stopping distances, and make roads hazardous for both drivers and pedestrians.
The holiday season also increases pedestrian risk, with high traffic volumes resulting from holiday travel, shopping, and social gatherings, increasing the number of vehicles on the road and the potential for a crash.
Additionally, alcohol consumption typically increases during holiday celebrations, contributing to impaired driving and reduced driver awareness.
Pedestrian behavior may also shift during this period, as individuals travel more frequently in unfamiliar areas, cross busy streets near shopping centers, or navigate poorly lit environments. Combined with increased congestion, distracted driving, and time pressures associated with holiday schedules, these factors create a convergence of risks that elevate pedestrian fatality rates.
Overall, the monthly distribution of pedestrian fatalities in 2023 reveals a clear pattern. While pedestrian deaths occur consistently throughout the year, risk escalates significantly during the fall and winter months, with October, November, and December representing the most dangerous period for pedestrians.
This means that targeted safety interventions, improved roadway lighting, and enhanced pedestrian infrastructure should all be a priority, while increased public awareness should be focused on the final three months of the year.
Specific danger periods aside, which states suffer the most pedestrian fatalities?
Top 10 Worst U.S. States for Pedestrian Fatalities
Pedestrian fatality rates vary significantly across the United States, and there are clear and stark geographic disparities when we measure the level of risk pedestrians face.
When adjusted for population size, several smaller and mid-sized states emerge as especially dangerous. New Mexico ranks as the most dangerous state overall for pedestrians: its fatality rate of 4.93 deaths per 100,000 residents means its pedestrians face over twice the risk of tenth-placed Arkansas.
Arizona (3.55 deaths per 100,000 residents) and South Carolina (3.36 per 100,000) reflect elevated pedestrian risk across the South and Southwest.
Florida, one of the nation’s most populous states, also ranks highly: its 751 pedestrian deaths translate to a rate of 3.2 per 100,000 residents.
This emphasizes the extent to which high traffic volumes, tourism, urban sprawl, and road design that prioritizes vehicles over pedestrians exacerbates risk and increases fatality rates. Pedestrians in Louisiana (3.15 fatalities per 100,000 residents), Nevada 3.18, and Mississippi 2.92 also face comparatively high levels of risk.
Even smaller states like Delaware rank highly. Its pedestrian fatality rate of 2.55 per 100,000 residents shows that pedestrian danger is not limited to high-population states and can also blight areas with limited pedestrian infrastructure, fewer protected crossings, and higher-speed roadways.
Georgia and Arkansas’ respective fatality rates of 2.74 and 2.40 per 100,000 residents confirm the fact that pedestrian safety issues cover both urban and rural environments.
In contrast, highly populated states such as California and Texas report the highest number of total pedestrian deaths overall but often rank lower on a per-capita basis. This emphasizes the need to employ population-adjusted fatality rates to provide a more accurate measure of individual risk.
Pedestrian risk in danger states is due to a number of factors. Road design, vehicle speed parameters, driver behavior, traffic congestion, lighting conditions, pedestrian visibility, and the availability of sidewalks, crosswalks, and traffic calming measures all come into play.
States featuring sprawling developments, wide arterial roads, and limited pedestrian-focused infrastructure tend to expose pedestrians to the highest danger, particularly in areas where vehicles travel at higher speeds.
Additionally, urban growth, increased vehicle miles traveled, and rising numbers of pedestrians in mixed-use environments further elevate risk.
Overall, the wide variation in pedestrian fatality rates across states underscores the urgent need for targeted safety interventions, including improved road design, enhanced pedestrian protections, better lighting, and focused public safety initiatives.
Pedestrian safety is determined less by population size than by how transport systems are designed, implemented, and managed, with some states presenting a substantially higher risk of fatal pedestrian crashes than others.
Though it misses out on the top ten danger list, how does Washington stack up regarding pedestrian safety?
Pedestrian Fatalities in Washington
In 2023, pedestrian fatalities in Washington were highly concentrated in a relatively small number of counties. Just 23 of the state’s 39 counties reported at least one pedestrian death, with such incidents disproportionately restricted to more populated and urbanized areas.
King County recorded by far the highest number of pedestrian fatalities: its 48 deaths accounted for nearly a third (32%) of all pedestrian deaths statewide. Spokane County reported the second-highest total (22 pedestrian fatalities), followed by Pierce County (19 deaths) and Snohomish County (11).
Yakima County also experienced a notable number of fatalities (8 deaths), while several other counties reported moderate totals, including Kitsap and Thurston counties with 6 fatalities each.
Most other Washington counties that featured pedestrian fatalities recorded relatively low numbers (typically between one and four deaths throughout the year), while 16 counties reported no pedestrian fatalities.
This concentration of fatalities in counties like King, Pierce, Spokane, and Snohomish reflects broader patterns tied to population density, traffic volume, and pedestrian activity, with these counties featuring some of the state’s largest cities and busiest roadways.
Urban environments tend to expose pedestrians to greater risk due to high vehicle volumes, more intersections, and increased vehicle and pedestrian interactions, particularly in areas featuring both residential and commercial development.
Overall, the uneven geographic distribution of pedestrian fatalities highlights the importance of targeted safety interventions in high-risk counties. In each case, infrastructure improvements, enhanced lighting, traffic calming measures, and pedestrian-focused road design can help reduce the number of fatal crashes.
In terms of measuring pedestrian vulnerability to a collision, it’s worth considering which vehicle types are most often involved in pedestrian deaths.
Vehicles Commonly Involved in Pedestrian Deaths
In 2023, U.S. pedestrian fatalities involved a wide range of vehicle types, but passenger cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks were responsible for the overwhelming majority (just over 75%). This reflects both their prevalence on U.S. roads and how often such vehicles frequent areas featuring pedestrians.
Passenger cars alone were involved in 2,368 pedestrian fatalities: that’s 32.4% of the total number, making them the single most common vehicle type involved in fatal pedestrian crashes.
Light trucks (SUVs) also played a major role. They were involved in 1,922 pedestrian fatalities, 26.3% of the total, while Light Truck Pickups contributed an additional 1,233 pedestrian deaths, 16.9% of fatalities. Light truck vans were involved in 282 deaths, or 3.9%.
When combined, light trucks, including SUVs, pickups, and vans, were involved in 3,437 pedestrian fatalities, or 47% of all pedestrian deaths.
This means nearly half of all pedestrians killed in motor vehicle crashes were struck by light trucks, underscoring the significant role these larger vehicles play regarding pedestrian safety.
Other or unknown vehicle types accounted for 958 pedestrian fatalities (13.1%), while large trucks, such as commercial freight vehicles, were involved in 466 deaths, 6.4% of U.S. pedestrian fatalities.
Buses and motorcycles accounted for a relatively small share of fatalities (50, 0.7% and 34, 0.5% respectively), reflecting both comparatively low road presence and very different crash profiles.
These findings highlight a broader shift in the U.S. vehicle fleet, with light trucks (including SUVs and pickups) increasingly dominant, and now accounting for a substantial share of registered vehicles and miles covered.
As these larger vehicles become more common, their involvement in pedestrian fatalities has increased. Light trucks typically have higher front-end profiles and greater mass compared to passenger cars, which can mean much more severe crashes and injuries. This is due to the fact that pedestrians are more likely to be struck in the torso or upper body than around the lower body.
Additionally, larger vehicles are often hampered by comparatively significant blind spots, especially in front of the vehicle. This can make it difficult for drivers to detect pedestrians, particularly in urban environments, at intersections, and in low-speed areas such as parking lots or residential streets.
Passenger cars, while smaller in size, remain the single most common vehicle type involved in pedestrian fatalities, largely due to how many there are on the road, meaning even a lower per-vehicle risk can result in a high total number of incidents.
The dominance of passenger cars and light trucks regarding pedestrian fatalities also reflects broader transportation and infrastructure patterns. These include road design that often solely focuses on vehicle needs, such as higher speed limits on arterial roads, with limited pedestrian infrastructure like protected crossings, sidewalks, and traffic calming measures.
Urban areas with high population density, mixed land use, and heavy traffic volumes are often subject to frequent vehicle and pedestrian interactions, increasing exposure to crash risk. Additionally, environmental factors such as poor illumination at night, distracted drivers, and increased traffic congestion further contribute to fatal pedestrian crashes that involve passenger vehicles.
Overall, the data demonstrates that pedestrian fatalities are overwhelmingly associated with the most commonly driven vehicle types, with passenger cars and light trucks accounting for three-quarters of all pedestrian deaths.
This underscores the importance of continued efforts to improve vehicle safety, road design, and pedestrian infrastructure to reduce the risk of fatal crashes and improve safety for pedestrians.
Another helpful data element when it comes to targeted safety measures is the days of the week that represent the most danger to pedestrians.
Pedestrian Fatalities: Danger Days
Pedestrian fatalities in 2023 measured by the day of the week they occurred reveal clear distinctions, with risks increasing significantly toward the end of the week and peaking on Fridays, when 1,155 pedestrians were killed. That accounted for 15.8% of all pedestrian fatalities during the year, meaning Friday was the most dangerous day of the week for pedestrians.
Saturday figures were very close behind (1,150 deaths, 15.7%), while Sunday also recorded significant figures (1,116 fatalities, 15.3%), which meant nearly half of all pedestrian deaths (46.8%) occurred between Friday and Sunday.
In contrast, pedestrian fatalities were lower earlier in the week. Monday accounted for 1,013 fatalities, 13.8% of the total. Tuesday recorded the fewest deaths (909 fatalities,12.4% of the annual total), followed by Wednesday (990 deaths, 13.5%) and Thursday (981 deaths, 13.4%).
Clearly, the risk to pedestrian safety is highest at the end of the week and across the weekend. And there are several key behavioral, environmental, and traffic-related factors that help to explain why Fridays are particularly dangerous for pedestrians.
One is increased traffic volume, with Fridays marking the transition from weekday commuting to weekend travel. Many people travel longer distances after work on Fridays to attend social events, visit family and friends, or head off on weekend trips, meaning more vehicles are on the road, increasing the likelihood of crashes.
Additionally, Friday evenings tend to bring higher levels of pedestrian activity, especially in urban areas, entertainment districts, retail centers, and restaurant corridors, with a comparatively high proportion of people walking near busy roads. This increase naturally raises the likelihood of interactions between vehicles and pedestrians.
Reduced visibility also plays a critical role. A large share of pedestrian fatalities occur during nighttime hours, and Friday evenings often involve extended nighttime travel and high pedestrian activity. (And it’s a similar case on the next two most dangerous days, Saturday and Sunday.)
The concentration of fatalities during the Friday to Sunday period emphasizes the importance of targeted safety interventions, such as increased traffic enforcement, improved road lighting, enhanced pedestrian infrastructure, and public awareness campaigns focused on high-risk days and times.
By understanding when pedestrian fatalities are most likely to occur, policymakers and safety officials can better focus their prevention efforts to reduce fatal crashes and improve pedestrian safety.
There’s another key reason that Friday to Sunday represents the highest amount of pedestrian danger: impaired drivers.
Alcohol Impairment in Drivers & Pedestrians
Alcohol played a significant role in pedestrian fatalities in 2023: it was a contributory factor in nearly half of all fatal pedestrian crashes. Overall, alcohol involvement (defined as a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 g/dL or higher in either the driver, the pedestrian, or both) was present in 46% of the 7,215 crashes that resulted in pedestrian deaths.
Among these fatal incidents, around 30% involved a pedestrian who had a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher, the legal threshold for intoxication in most states, highlighting the significant role alcohol plays in pedestrian vulnerability.
Driver impairment – though less of a factor than pedestrian impairment – was also a major contributing factor. 16% of fatal pedestrian crashes involved at least one driver with a BAC at or above .08 g/dL, underscoring the continued risk drunk driving represents.
In total, 2,165 fatal pedestrian crashes involved a pedestrian with a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher, while 1,129 crashes involved a driver at or above that threshold. These findings highlight the complex role alcohol plays in pedestrian safety, affecting both driver awareness and pedestrian decision-making.
Alcohol impairment can reduce reaction time, impair judgment, and increase risk-taking behaviors, such as crossing outside designated crosswalks or walking near high-speed roads.
The fact that alcohol was present in nearly half of all fatal pedestrian crashes emphasizes the extent to which it’s a safety concern, and reinforces the importance of prevention efforts aimed at reducing impaired driving and promoting safer pedestrian behaviors.
Prevention efforts might also consider the pedestrian age groups most at risk of being injured or killed in a crash.
Demographic Distinctions: The Pedestrian Age Groups At Risk
Adults between the ages of 21 and 44 emerge as those with the highest levels of alcohol impairment among pedestrians killed in traffic crashes.
In 2023, 21–24–year–olds had the highest intoxication rate. 40% of those killed had a BAC of .08 or higher, representing 341 fatalities in that age group.
Adults aged 35–44 also showed a high intoxication rate (37%), accounting for 1,328 fatalities, while those aged 25–34 recorded a 36% intoxication rate across 1,199 deaths.
45–54 year–olds were also subject to elevated impairment levels, with 35% of 1,104 fatalities involving a BAC at or above the legal limit.
These figures indicate that alcohol impairment was most prevalent among working-age adults, for whom roughly one in three to two in five pedestrian fatalities involved intoxication levels over the legal threshold.
In contrast, older age groups exhibited substantially lower rates of alcohol involvement, reinforcing the fact that the highest BAC ≥ .08 levels were restricted to younger and middle-aged adults.
Pedestrian Vulnerability in the U.S.
Motor vehicle crashes continue to pose a major public safety challenge across the United States, with more than 4 million crashes occurring annually and 40,901 lives lost in 2023 alone.
Of those fatalities, 7,314 were pedestrians, meaning nearly 1 in 5 traffic deaths involved a person outside a crashing vehicle. This high share confirms the persistent risks pedestrians face within a transportation system largely designed around vehicle movement and speed.
Urban environments tend to expose pedestrians to greater risk due to high vehicle volumes, more intersections, and increased vehicle and pedestrian interactions, particularly in areas featuring both residential and commercial development
While pedestrian deaths occur consistently month to month, risk intensifies significantly in the final quarter, with nearly 30% of all pedestrian fatalities occurring between October and December. December alone was the deadliest month, while Fridays were the most dangerous day of the week overall, with weekend days collectively accounting for nearly half of all pedestrian deaths.
These patterns suggest that seasonal factors such as reduced daylight hours, increased holiday travel, heavier traffic volumes, and elevated alcohol consumption contribute to heightened pedestrian risk.
Geographic disparities further define pedestrian risk. When adjusted for population size, several smaller and mid-sized states (including New Mexico, Arizona, South Carolina, and Louisiana) ranked among the most dangerous, reporting significantly higher pedestrian fatality rates per 100,000 residents than many larger states.
While highly populated states such as California and Texas report the highest total numbers of pedestrian deaths, per-capita rates reveal that residents in certain states face substantially greater individual risk.
These disparities are influenced by road design, urban sprawl, high-speed arterial corridors, limited pedestrian infrastructure, and traffic patterns that increase the likelihood of vehicle-pedestrian conflict.
Vehicle type involvement in pedestrian crashes is also a significant factor. Passenger cars accounted for roughly one-third of pedestrian fatalities, while light trucks, including SUVs and pickup trucks, were another major factor.
As larger vehicles have become increasingly dominant within the U.S. vehicle fleet, their higher front-end profiles can lead to especially severe pedestrian injuries when crashes occur.
Alcohol impairment remains another significant factor, with nearly half of fatal pedestrian crashes involving alcohol and 30% involving a pedestrian with a BAC of .08 or higher, compared to 16% involving an intoxicated driver. Working-age adults between 21 and 44 exhibited the highest intoxication rates among pedestrians killed.
Overall, the study reveals seasonal, behavioral, and vehicle-related trends that help to clarify when and where pedestrians face the highest threat levels, and clearly reveals the states that represent the highest levels of danger to pedestrians.
By deploying the right targeted prevention strategies and public awareness campaigns, the key states in question could potentially save thousands of pedestrian lives.
Although Bellevue is home to many walkable neighborhoods, negligent drivers can make these streets dangerous. If you’ve been hit by a reckless or distracted driver, you could be dealing with painful injuries, medical bills, and a number of other issues.
Luckily, a Bellevue pedestrian accident lawyer at Premier Law Group can help you get back on your feet.
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