Pedestrian Danger in America: New Study Identifies the States, Seasons, and Risk Factors

America’s roads remain perilous, not only for drivers and passengers, but for people on foot. In 2023, 40,901 people were killed in motor vehicle incidents nationwide. Of those fatalities, 7,314 were pedestrians, 18% of all deaths. Another 67,850 pedestrians were injured, equaling 2.9% of the nation’s 2.42 million crash-related injuries. A new analysis from Siegfried & Jensen digs into who is most at risk, where dangers concentrate, when risk spikes, and how alcohol (for both drivers and pedestrians) factors into deadly outcomes.

The States Where Pedestrians Face the Most Danger

Raw totals tell a stark story. Based on 2023 pedestrian fatality counts, the most populous states—California (1,104), Texas (800), and Florida (751)—record the highest numbers of deaths. But geography complicates the picture: several Southern states (Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee) also land in the top ten, suggesting a regional pattern linked to urban sprawl, high-speed arterials, and comparatively limited pedestrian infrastructure.

Per capita risk brings an even sharper lens. In 2023, New Mexico posted 4.93 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 residents, the worst in the country, followed by Arizona (3.57), South Carolina (3.41), Florida (3.21), and Nevada (3.18). These South and Southwest states share common traits: long, fast corridors, auto-oriented land use, and inconsistent protection for people walking. Meanwhile, New York, despite massive foot traffic, appears relatively safer by total deaths, likely benefiting from slower urban speeds, transit usage, and street designs that increasingly prioritize pedestrians.

The Calendar Is a Risk Factor

Contrary to popular assumptions, the deadliest time for pedestrians isn’t the summer; it’s late fall through early winter. Nearly 30% of 2023 pedestrian deaths occurred October–December:

• Jan 659 | Feb 605 | Mar 575 | Apr 516 | May 503 | Jun 490
• Jul 538 | Aug 596 | Sep 646 | Oct 712 | Nov 733 | Dec 741

Shorter daylight, evening travel, holiday traffic, and poorer visibility drive risk higher as the year winds down. The implication is clear: visibility upgrades, targeted seasonal campaigns, and crosswalk-focused interventions are most effective before the darkness and holiday surge arrive.

Who Is Most at Risk

The burden is not evenly shared.

• By gender: Men account for over 70% of pedestrian deaths. Of 7,314 fatalities, detailed gender data are available for 7,284: 5,148 male vs. 2,126 female (with ~30 unclassified). Elevated male risk aligns with more nighttime exposure, risk-taking, and route choices that intersect higher-speed roads.
• By age: Adults 25–64 account for 4,904 deaths—67% of all pedestrian fatalities. The highest counts: 35–44 (1,328), 55–64 (1,273), and 25–34 (1,199). Contrary to common assumptions, the most at-risk pedestrians aren’t primarily children or seniors; it’s working-age adults walking for commuting, errands, and daily life. Seniors (65+) constitute a smaller share by count (about 21%), but face greater injury severity. Children and teens under 21 represent a small portion (~6%), aided by supervision and protected school zones.

Alcohol: The Overlooked Half of the Story

Discussions of impairment usually focus on drivers, but 2023 data reveal a critical asymmetry: 28.8% of pedestrians killed were legally intoxicated (BAC ≥ 0.08), while only 17% of drivers involved in those same fatal incidents exceeded the legal limit. This inversion highlights a neglected public-safety reality: drunk walking can be deadly, especially at night on poorly lit, high-speed roads without protective crossings.

What Works: The Playbook for Safer Streets

The study outlines a pragmatic, evidence-based set of reforms:

1. Speed Management: Lower design speeds on high-injury corridors; deploy raised crosswalks, median refuges, gateway treatments, and leading pedestrian intervals.
2. Lighting & Visibility: Prioritize lighting upgrades and high-contrast markings where fall/winter risk peaks; expand reflective beacons and nighttime enforcement.
3. Crossing Access: Add crossings every ¼ mile in urbanized areas; redesign multi-lane arterials where most severe crashes cluster.
4. Impairment Campaigns: Expand messaging to include drunk walking, not just drunk driving; coordinate with nightlife districts on safe-walk and ride-hail options.
5. Demographic Targeting: Tailor campaigns to men 25–64 with behavior-specific messaging; reinforce school-zone protections; support seniors with longer signal timing and resting refuges.
6. State Focus: Direct resources to per-capita hotspots (NM, AZ, SC, FL, NV) and high-count states (CA, TX, FL) with corridor-specific fixes.

If we want fewer funerals, we need slower streets, brighter nights, safer crossings, and smarter messages about impairment for drivers and pedestrians, the report concludes.