According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, in 2022 alone, more than 7,500 pedestrians were killed while walking on U.S. roadways, reflecting a percentage increase of close to 80 percent just between 2010 and 2021. These increases represent 40-year-highs for pedestrian fatalities – an eye-opener for those who have sustained injuries or lost their lives or loved ones to these accidents.
There are a number of factors involved in this increase, with the most important likely being the proliferation of bigger, heavier SUVs and trucks, which pose a heavier threat to both pedestrians and cyclists and can be harder to control, with more blind spots in the front or rear, making it more difficult to operate in crowded areas.
Pedestrians are No Match for Bigger & Bigger Vehicles
The physics of these accidents make for difficult odds for those outside of the SUVs: According to a study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, SUV accidents at city and residential speeds of 30 to 39 miles per hour result in 30 percent fatality for all accidents involving pedestrians (compared with 23 percent for those involving regular cars and pedestrians).
In addition, the tall hoods on these vehicles make it virtually impossible to spot obstacles in front of the driver and increase braking distances involved, increasing the amount of time needed for these vehicles to come to a stop. The point of impact for adult pedestrians hit by midsize sedans and other popular truck models is typically the legs or the torso, whereas children are typically crushed outright.
Road Infrastructure Threats
In addition to the dangerous infrastructure of the vehicles themselves, our U.S. roads are arguably very dangerous to walk on in some areas, with few sidewalks or other barriers properly separating pedestrians and vehicles. When you add in increasing speeds and a decrease in traffic enforcement, it is a recipe for disaster.
This is especially true in disadvantaged neighborhoods, where the pedestrian infrastructure is often worse than that in affluent neighborhoods. These communities have fewer marked crosswalks, parks, sidewalks, and other measures to provide protective barriers and areas for pedestrians. People walking in these neighborhoods are more likely to be struck and killed by vehicles that are traveling at faster speeds than those in higher-income groups, and more Black and Native Americans, in general, are more likely to die while walking than other groups.
