Modest Decline in U.S. Pedestrian Deaths Last Year Bucks Decade-Long Trend

A modest 3% decline in pedestrian deaths in the first half of last year comes amid a decade-long rise in deaths of people walking in the U.S., a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association shows.

Drivers killed 3,304 people walking in the first half of 2024, down 2.6% from the year before. That’s 88 fewer fatalities than during the first six months of 2023, according to the analysis from GHSA.

However, last year’s figures represent 1,072 more pedestrian deaths than in 2014. The 18,720 roadway deaths in the first half of 2024 were up 10% from the 17,025 reported during the same period in 2019 and up 25% from 15,035 in 2014, the report shows.

GHSA bases its look at state and national trends in pedestrian traffic deaths from January through June based on preliminary data provided by State Highway Safety Offices. The association figures show that over the last decade, deaths of people on foot have risen at a pace nearly seven times higher than U.S. population growth.

The association attributes the long-term trend to a combination of interrelated factors, including a steep drop in traffic enforcement nationwide since 2020 that has led to a rise in dangerous driving behaviors. Additionally, most roads are designed to prioritize fast-moving vehicle traffic instead of slower speeds that are safer for people on foot.

Many communities also lack infrastructure like sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting that help protect pedestrians. Lastly, the U.S. vehicle fleet is increasingly dominated by larger, heavier vehicles that are more likely to injure or kill people walking, according to GHSA.

According to the report, the decline in pedestrian deaths in the first half of 2024 mirrors a recent trend in overall traffic fatalities in which National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data show roadway deaths fell 3.2% during the first six months of last year.

The GHSA report shows pedestrian fatalities fell in 22 states, while 23 states and the District of Columbia experienced increases. The numbers were unchanged in five states.