More pedestrians than ever before die on U.S. roads – with big vehicles featuring high front-ends a growing issue
As U.S. roads become increasingly dangerous, the number of pedestrians killed steadily rises. Since 2014, we’ve seen a massive 48% rise in pedestrians killed by drivers. But why is this happening, and what can we do about it?
Our new study uses modern crash data to point to two predominant factors: an increasing number of speeding vehicles, and big vehicles featuring dangerous high front-end designs. We also look at some of the things that can be done to bring those numbers down.
The two main factors killing thousands of pedestrians each year
The numbers we found make for sober reading. Our analysis reveals that drivers killed 3,304 pedestrians during the first half of 2024. Although this represents a drop on recent figures (88 fewer fatalities than during the first six months of 2023) that’s still 1,072 more preventable pedestrian deaths than during the same period in 2014.
New Mexico has the highest rate of pedestrians killed by motorists in the country, with nearly five pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people. Here’s a full list of the top ten states with the highest pedestrian fatalities.
- 1. New Mexico
- 2. Florida
- 3. South Carolina / Louisiana (tie)
- 5 Arizona
- 6. Mississippi
- 7. Delaware
- 8. California
- 9. Georgia
- 10. Nevada
Our study revealed that some areas suffered acutely worrying increases in pedestrian fatalities. Nebraska recorded an astonishing 150% increase in pedestrian deaths compared to 2023 and tops the 2024 rankings for notably worsening states.
- 1. Nebraska (150% increase)
- 2. Alaska (66.7% increase)
- 3. Connecticut (56.5% increase)
- 4. Missouri (46.2% increase)
- 5. Kansas (41.2% increase)
- 6. Iowa (34.6% increase)
- 7. Nevada (29.2% increase)
- 8. North Carolina (28% increase)
- 9. Mississippi (26.7% increase)
- 10. New Jersey (26% increase)
There are many contributing factors to the thousands of yearly pedestrian deaths on U.S. roads. Yet two factors combined offer the biggest dual-threat: oversized modern vehicles travelling at high speeds.
Speeding is a growing issue on our roads, and the faster the car, the more dangerous the potential impact. Our findings show speeding as a factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities in 2022, killing 12,151, or 33 people a day.
Of those fatalities, 7,522 were pedestrians, 18% of all traffic fatalities – an 83% rise on 2009 figures.
Our research also revealed how increasing speed worsens the severe injury threat to pedestrians. Using median passenger vehicles as the benchmark, tests showed that, at 24 km/h, pedestrians are at 10% risk of serious injury.
At 35 km/h, pedestrians are now 50% likely to suffer a moderate-to-fatal injury. At 49 km/h, the risk level rises, with 50% of pedestrians potentially incurring a serious or fatal injury.
And, at 68 km/h impact, pedestrians have a 50% chance of being killed by a vehicle.
Size matters
Comparing median passenger vehicle results with those involving bigger-than-average vehicles illustrate the increased risk to pedestrians. As our analysis shows, the 10% of pedestrians at risk of serious injury with median passenger vehicles travelling at 24 km/h rises to 10.8% with a median pickup truck driving at the same speed.
Similarly, taller vehicles increase the probability of Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS) injuries.
The potential for a pedestrian to suffer MAIS 2+F (minor) injuries when hit by a larger vehicle rises from 59% to 82%; for serious (MAIS 3+F) injuries, the number rises from 29% to 60%.
So vehicle size matters when it comes to pedestrian safety. SUVs and pickup trucks are responsible for a disproportionate amount of pedestrian injuries and fatalities, and are up to 2–3 times more likely to kill a pedestrian in a crash compared with smaller vehicles.
As our analysis found, this is mainly because high SUV and pickup hoods strike a pedestrian above their center of gravity at torso level, resulting in a collision likely to throw them in front of a vehicle.
In this respect, it’s worrying that SUVs, vans, and pickup trucks are increasingly popular: by 2022 they accounted for 79% of new U.S. leases and vehicle sales. Meanwhile, smaller vehicle sales dropped from 50% of new vehicles in 2012 to 21% in 2022.
Although the popular choice, such vehicles are so big, they may be unsuitable for some vacation trips. Here’s a list of ten historic towns you’d struggle to negotiate (or enjoy) in an oversized SUV or pickup.
- 1. Wickford, Rhode Island
- 2. Abilene, Kansas
- 3. San Elizario, Texas
- 4. Carlisle, Pennsylvania
- 5. De Smet, South Dakota
- 6. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
- 7. Taos, New Mexico
- 8. Natchitoches, Louisiana
- 9. Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
- 10. Natchez, Mississippi
At Bader Scott Injury Lawyers, we know there are solutions to these issues. Offering more incentives to buy smaller vehicles would increase road safety.
Lowering speed limits in pedestrian-heavy areas and imposing other traffic calming measures would also help. And deploying more proven safety systems, such as Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems (which can reduce crashes by 27% and serious injuries by up to 87%) offers another safety benefit.
Ultimately, our study clearly illustrates that large vehicles with elevated hoods travelling at high speeds represent the ultimate risk to pedestrians.
Yet, we could quickly see a downturn in those harrowing pedestrian fatality numbers. By buying into some of the aforementioned safety measures, we can save thousands of lives each year.
As GHSA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins says, “Every day, 18 people don’t return home after taking a walk. That’s unacceptable.”