NHTSA’s June 2026 report counts 7,080 pedestrians killed in US traffic crashes in 2024, one every 74 minutes, with 24% of victims struck by hit-and-run drivers and New Mexico posting the highest state rate at 4.22 deaths per 100,000 people. The Governors Highway Safety Association projects pedestrian deaths fell 7% to 6,732 in 2025, the third straight annual decline.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics in US 2026 – Introduction
Pedestrian accident statistics in US 2026 show a slow turn after years of rising deaths. Pedestrian fatalities peaked at 7,593 in 2022, fell to 7,080 in 2024, and early state data point to 6,732 in 2025. Even so, 18% of all traffic deaths in 2024 were people on foot, and more than 71,000 pedestrians were injured.
The risk is not spread evenly. Most deaths happen in the dark, away from intersections, and in cities. Nearly one in four victims is hit by a driver who flees. This report uses the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 2024 and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) for 2025 projections. Data for 2026 is not available yet.
Interesting Facts About Pedestrian Accidents in US 2026
Pedestrian Deaths, Selected Years (1 block = 250)
2015 | ██████████████████████ 5,494
2022 | ██████████████████████████████▍ 7,593
2024 | ████████████████████████████▎ 7,080
2025 | ██████████████████████████▉ 6,732 (projected)
| Fact | Latest Data |
|---|---|
| Pedestrians killed, 2024 | 7,080 |
| Pedestrians injured, 2024 | 71,635 |
| Share of all traffic deaths | 18% |
| Frequency | One killed every 74 minutes, one injured every 7 minutes |
| Hit-and-run share | 24% |
| Highest state rate (New Mexico) | 4.22 per 100,000 |
| National rate | 2.08 per 100,000 |
| Projected deaths, 2025 | 6,732 (down 7%) |
Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians, 2024 Data (June 2026); Governors Highway Safety Association, 2025 projection.
The table gives the national picture. NHTSA counts 7,080 pedestrians killed in 2024, or 19 a day. Another 71,635 were injured, a 5.0% increase from 68,241 in 2023. Pedestrians make up 18% of traffic deaths but only 3% of people injured, which shows how deadly a crash with a vehicle is for someone on foot.
The projections suggest progress. GHSA estimates 6,732 pedestrian deaths in 2025, down 505 from its 7,237 estimate for 2024. GHSA’s 2024 figure differs from NHTSA’s 7,080 because GHSA uses state-reported preliminary data. The pedestrian death rate fell below 2.0 per 100,000 people in 2025 for the first time since before the pandemic.
Pedestrian Deaths by Year in US 2026: How Have Fatalities Changed Since 2015?
Pedestrian Fatalities by Year (1 block = 250)
2017 | ████████████████████████▎ 6,075
2019 | █████████████████████████ 6,272
2021 | █████████████████████████████▉ 7,470
2023 | █████████████████████████████▍ 7,367
2024 | ████████████████████████████▎ 7,080
| Year | Pedestrians Killed | Share of All Traffic Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5,494 | 15% |
| 2017 | 6,075 | 16% |
| 2019 | 6,272 | 17% |
| 2021 | 7,470 | 17% |
| 2022 | 7,593 | 18% |
| 2023 | 7,367 | 18% |
| 2024 | 7,080 | 18% |
Source: NHTSA, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians, 2024 Data.
Pedestrian deaths rose from 5,494 in 2015 to 7,593 in 2022, then fell in 2023 and 2024. The 7,080 deaths in 2024 are 3.9% below the 7,367 in 2023. They remain far above the 6,272 recorded in 2019.
Pedestrians also make up a larger share of road deaths than before. In 2015 they were 15% of traffic fatalities. By 2022 the share was 18%, and it stayed there through 2024. Total traffic deaths fell to 39,254 in 2024, so pedestrian deaths fell slightly more slowly than all traffic deaths.
Pedestrian Deaths by Age Group in US 2026: Who Is Most at Risk?
Pedestrians Killed by Age, 2024 (1 block = 25)
Ages 40-44 | ████████████████████████████ 699
Ages 35-39 | ███████████████████████████▋ 692
Ages 30-34 | ████████████████████████▌ 615
Ages 60-64 | ███████████████████████▉ 599
Ages 55-59 | ██████████████████████▌ 564
| Age Group | Pedestrians Killed | Fatality Rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | 56 | 0.30 |
| 15-20 | 275 | 1.02 |
| 30-34 | 615 | 2.56 |
| 35-39 | 692 | 2.99 |
| 40-44 | 699 | 3.12 |
| 60-64 | 599 | 2.81 |
| 65 and older | 1,535 | 2.51 |
| All ages | 7,080 | 2.08 |
Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians, 2024 Data, Tables 2 and 3.
Adults in midlife carry the heaviest burden. The 40-44 age group had the most deaths, 699, and the highest rate, 3.12 per 100,000. Ages 35-39 followed with 692 deaths and ages 30-34 with 615. The average age of a pedestrian killed was 48, up from 47 ten years ago.
Children face far lower risk per capita. Children 14 and younger accounted for 172 deaths, a rate of 0.29. Even so, 17% of children in that age group killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians. Older adults are notable: people 65 and older made up 1,535 deaths, and 19% of people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians.
Pedestrian Deaths by Gender and Alcohol in US 2026: What Do Crash Records Show?
Pedestrian Fatality Rate by Sex, 2024 (per 100,000)
Male | ██████████████████████████████ 2.91
Female | ████████████▊ 1.24
| Measure (2024) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Male pedestrians killed | 4,902 (69%) |
| Female pedestrians killed | 2,133 |
| Male fatality rate | 2.91 per 100,000 |
| Female fatality rate | 1.24 per 100,000 |
| Fatal crashes with alcohol involved | 43% |
| Pedestrian BAC of .08 or higher | 27% of fatal crashes |
| Driver BAC of .08 or higher | 15% of fatal crashes |
Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians, 2024 Data, Tables 3 to 5.
Men are killed at 2.3 times the rate of women: 2.91 against 1.24 per 100,000. Males 40-44 have the highest rate of any age and sex group, at 4.35. Men make up 69% of the 7,080 pedestrians killed. Their injury rate is also higher, at 25 per 100,000 against 18 for women.
Alcohol was involved in 43% of fatal pedestrian crashes, counting the driver, the pedestrian or both. In 27% of fatal crashes the pedestrian had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, and in 15% the driver did. Pedestrians 21-24 had the highest share with .08 or higher, at 38%. That share for all adult victims was 34% in 2015 and 27% in 2024.
When and Where Pedestrian Crashes Happen in US 2026: Time, Light and Location
Pedestrian Deaths by Light Condition, 2024 (1 block = 2%)
Dark | ██████████████████████████████████████ 76%
Daylight | ██████████ 20%
Dusk | █ 2%
Dawn | █ 2%
| Condition (2024) | Share of Pedestrian Deaths |
|---|---|
| In the dark | 76% |
| Not at an intersection | 73% |
| Urban areas | 84% |
| Single-vehicle crashes | 90% |
| 6 to 8:59 p.m. | 24% |
| 9 to 11:59 p.m. | 23% |
| Weekend, 9 to 11:59 p.m. | 28% |
| 9 to 11:59 a.m. | 4% |
Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians, 2024 Data, Figures 1 and 2.
Darkness is the main risk factor. 76% of pedestrian deaths happened in the dark, against 20% in daylight. The evening hours are the deadliest: 24% of deaths happened from 6 to 8:59 p.m. and 23% from 9 to 11:59 p.m. On weekends, 28% of deaths came between 9 and 11:59 p.m. Only 4% came in the late morning.
Location matters as much as time. 73% of deaths happened where there was no intersection, and only 18% at intersections. 84% of deaths were in urban areas. 90% involved a single vehicle. NHTSA’s guidance for pedestrians includes crossing at crosswalks when possible, wearing bright or reflective clothing at night, and avoiding distraction near traffic.
Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents in US 2026: How Many Drivers Flee?
Hit-and-Run Share of Pedestrian Deaths (1 block = 1%)
2019 | ████████████████████ 19.9%
2024 | ████████████████████████ 23.8%
| Hit-and-Run Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Share of pedestrian deaths, 2024 (NHTSA) | 24% |
| Share of pedestrian deaths, 2024 (GHSA) | 23.8% |
| Pedestrians killed in hit-and-runs, 2024 | 1,669 |
| Change from 2023 | Down 4% |
| Share in 2019 | 19.9%, a six-year low |
| Hit-and-run deaths in single-vehicle crashes | 92% |
Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians, 2024 Data; Governors Highway Safety Association, 2025 Preliminary Data.
Nearly one in four pedestrians killed in 2024 was struck by a driver who fled. GHSA counts 1,669 hit-and-run deaths, down 4% from 2023, and 23.8% of the total. The share is up from 19.9% in 2019, the lowest of a six-year span. NHTSA’s rounded figure is 24%.
The structure of these crashes is simple. 92% of pedestrians killed in hit-and-run crashes died in single-vehicle crashes. That means a lone driver struck the victim and left. The share rose from 19.9% to 23.8% between 2019 and 2024, so hit-and-run deaths grew faster than other pedestrian deaths over that span.
Vehicle Types in Pedestrian Deaths in US 2026: Which Vehicles Strike Pedestrians?
Pedestrians Killed by Striking Vehicle, 2024 (1 block = 100)
Light truck (SUV, pickup, van) | ██████████████████████████████ 2,990
Passenger car | ████████████████████ 1,988
Other or unknown | ███████▍ 741
Large truck | ███▊ 375
Bus | ▌ 50
| Vehicle Type (2024) | Pedestrians Killed | Front Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Light truck (SUV, pickup, van) | 2,990 | 90.4% |
| SUV | 1,758 | 90.8% |
| Pickup | 998 | 90.4% |
| Van | 232 | 87.5% |
| Passenger car | 1,988 | 92.0% |
| Large truck | 375 | 72.5% |
| Bus | 50 | 72.0% |
Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians, 2024 Data, Table 6 (single-vehicle crashes where the first harmful event was a collision with a pedestrian; 6,144 deaths).
Light trucks, a group that includes SUVs, pickups and vans, were the striking vehicle in 2,990 of 6,144 single-vehicle pedestrian deaths. Passenger cars were involved in 1,988. SUVs accounted for 1,758, pickups for 998 and vans for 232. Large trucks were involved in 375 deaths and buses in 50.
In 85.3% of these crashes the pedestrian was struck by the front of the vehicle. The front-impact share was above 90% for passenger cars and light trucks. For large trucks it was 72.5%, with a higher share of right-side impacts, at 6.9%. The vehicle type was unknown for 741 deaths.
Pedestrian Deaths by State in US 2026: Which States Have the Highest Rates?
Pedestrian Fatality Rate per 100,000, 2024
New Mexico | ██████████████████████████████ 4.22
Mississippi | █████████████████████████ 3.53
Louisiana | ████████████████████████▋ 3.46
Nevada | ███████████████████████▌ 3.31
Arizona | ███████████████████████▍ 3.30
U.S. total | ██████████████▊ 2.08
| Rank | State | Rate per 100,000 | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | 4.22 | 90 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 3.53 | 104 |
| 3 | Louisiana | 3.46 | 159 |
| 4 | Nevada | 3.31 | 108 |
| 5 | Arizona | 3.30 | 250 |
| 6 | Florida | 2.86 | 668 |
| 7 | South Carolina | 2.85 | 156 |
| 8 | California | 2.76 | 1,090 |
| 9 | Delaware | 2.66 | 28 |
| 10 | Georgia | 2.56 | 286 |
| Lowest | North Dakota | 0.63 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians, 2024 Data, Table 7 (Washington, DC also has a rate of 2.56).
New Mexico leads at 4.22 deaths per 100,000, followed by Mississippi at 3.53 and Louisiana at 3.46. These rates are roughly double the 2.08 national average. By raw count, California had the most deaths at 1,090, then Texas at 763 and Florida at 668. Texas’s rate of 2.44 is above average but below the top ten.
At the other end, North Dakota had the lowest rate at 0.63, followed by Wyoming at 0.68, Idaho at 0.70, New Hampshire at 0.71 and Montana at 0.88. Pedestrians are a much higher share of traffic deaths in some places: 38.3% in the District of Columbia, 34.3% in Hawaii and 31.3% in New Jersey, against 18.0% nationally.
Pedestrian Deaths by City in US 2026: Which Large Cities Are Most Dangerous?
Pedestrian Fatality Rate, Cities Over 500,000 (per 100,000)
Albuquerque | ██████████████████████████████ 8.21
Tucson | █████████████████████████████ 7.94
Memphis | ██████████████████████████ 7.20
Louisville | ██████████████████████ 6.09
New York | ████▍ 1.20
| City (2024) | Pedestrian Deaths | Rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 46 | 8.21 |
| Tucson, AZ | 44 | 7.94 |
| Memphis, TN | 44 | 7.20 |
| Louisville, KY | 39 | 6.09 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 94 | 5.62 |
| Fresno, CA | 30 | 5.45 |
| Dallas, TX | 72 | 5.43 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 156 | 4.02 |
| Houston, TX | 116 | 4.85 |
| New York City, NY | 102 | 1.20 |
Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians, 2024 Data, Table 8.
Albuquerque had the highest rate among the 38 cities with populations of 500,000 or more, at 8.21 per 100,000, followed by Tucson at 7.94 and Memphis at 7.20. Los Angeles recorded the most deaths, 156, then Houston with 116 and New York City with 102. Most large cities had rates above the 2.08 national average.
New York City had the lowest rate at 1.20, followed by Boston at 1.78 and Columbus at 1.93. In San Francisco, pedestrians made up 53.2% of all traffic deaths, the highest share. In Kansas City, Missouri, the share was 16.8%, the lowest. A city’s rate reflects road design, speed limits and how many residents walk.
Pedestrian Deaths 2025 Preliminary Data in US 2026: Which States Changed Most?
GHSA Pedestrian Deaths, 2024 vs 2025 Projected (1 block = 25)
Texas 2024 | ██████████████████████████████▉ 772
Texas 2025 | ████████████████████████████ 700
South Carolina 2024| ██████▎ 158
South Carolina 2025| ██████▋ 166
| State | 2024 | 2025 Projected | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 772 | 700 | -9.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 173 | 160 | -7.5% |
| South Carolina | 158 | 166 | +5.1% |
| Tennessee | 162 | 162 | 0.0% |
| Utah | 44 | 41 | -6.8% |
| Rhode Island | 13 | 7 | -46.2% |
| Wyoming | 5 | 10 | +100.0% |
| United States | 7,237 | 6,732 | -7% |
Source: Governors Highway Safety Association, Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State, 2025 Preliminary Data.
GHSA’s state tables show a mixed picture inside the national decline. Texas fell from 772 to 700 deaths, a 9.3% drop and 72 fewer lives lost. Pennsylvania dropped 7.5%. South Carolina rose 5.1% to 166, and Tennessee stayed flat at 162. Small states swing wildly, with Wyoming going from 5 to 10 and Rhode Island from 13 to 7.
The first half of 2025 had already pointed down. GHSA projected 3,024 pedestrian deaths from January to June 2025, an 11% decrease and the largest drop since GHSA began tracking, averaging 16 per day. The rate fell to 0.90 per 100,000 people in that half-year. Measured by travel, the rate was 1.86 deaths per billion vehicle miles, the lowest since 2019.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics in US FAQ 2026
How Many Pedestrians Are Killed in the US Each Year?
NHTSA counted 7,080 pedestrian deaths in 2024. GHSA projects 6,732 in 2025.
How Often Is a Pedestrian Killed in the US?
One every 74 minutes and one injured every 7 minutes, based on 2024 NHTSA data.
Which State Has the Most Pedestrian Deaths?
California, with 1,090 in 2024, followed by Texas with 763 and Florida with 668.
Which State Has the Highest Pedestrian Death Rate?
New Mexico, at 4.22 per 100,000 people in 2024. Mississippi was second at 3.53.
What Percentage of Pedestrian Deaths Are Hit-and-Run?
About 24% in 2024. GHSA counted 1,669 hit-and-run pedestrian deaths.
When Do Most Pedestrian Accidents Happen?
In the evening and at night. 24% of deaths occur from 6 to 8:59 p.m., and 76% occur in the dark.
Where Do Most Pedestrian Accidents Happen?
Away from intersections. 73% of deaths occur at non-intersection locations, and 84% occur in urban areas.
What Age Group Has the Most Pedestrian Deaths?
Ages 40-44, with 699 deaths and a rate of 3.12 per 100,000.
Are Men or Women More Likely to Die as Pedestrians?
Men. They account for 69% of deaths, and their rate of 2.91 is 2.3 times the female rate.
Is Alcohol a Factor in Pedestrian Deaths?
Alcohol was involved in 43% of fatal pedestrian crashes in 2024, counting drivers and pedestrians.
Which City Has the Highest Pedestrian Death Rate?
Among cities over 500,000, Albuquerque at 8.21 per 100,000, followed by Tucson at 7.94.
How Can Pedestrians Stay Safer?
NHTSA advises using sidewalks, crossing at crosswalks, wearing bright or reflective clothing at night and avoiding alcohol and distractions near traffic.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
