Pedestrian Deaths

Large black SYV driving down city street with blurred background.

GAO to Investigate How Vehicle Design Impacts Safety

A lax set of rules around vehicle size, height, and other factors is partly responsible for the alarming rise in pedestrian deaths in the United States.

June 17, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Soldiers and Sailors Monument in traffic circle in Indianapolis at twilight.

Indianapolis Leaders Propose Vision Zero Plan

As of now, the city lacks a dedicated funding source for pedestrian safety efforts.

June 12, 2024 - The Indianapolis Star

Aerial view of downtown Phoenix, Arizona on a sunny day.

Video: Phoenix Sets its Sights on Vision Zero

The city hopes to eliminate traffic deaths in the next 25 years.

May 26, 2024 - ABC15 Arizona

"Stop - Pedestrians in crosswalk" sign in white and red lights.

Video: Zeroing in on Nighttime Traffic Deaths

Three in four pedestrian deaths in the United States happen at night.

May 5, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Pedestrians crossing a busy crosswalk on New York City street with tall buildings in background

New York’s Deadliest Neighborhoods for Pedestrians

Pedestrian deaths rose last year, but remain below pre-2020 levels.

April 24, 2024 - PIX 11

Stoplight with green light and "no right turn on red" pictograph on overhead signal

San Francisco Bans Right Turns on Red at 200 Intersections

More cities are reversing the 1970s policy due to its disproportionate involvement in pedestrian crashes.

April 8, 2024 - Axios

Young man in wheelchair crossing zebra crosswalk.

How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities

Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.

March 28, 2024 - Governing

Two-lane highway with solid yellow center line and one car driving away against backdrop of red rock formations in Nevada.

Traffic Deaths Rise Sharply on Western Roads

The region is seeing higher rates of road deaths in part due to larger vehicles, high speed limits, and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure.

March 5, 2024 - High Country News

Yellow 'Yield to pedestrians' sign with graphic sign of person walking across street.

Pedestrian Deaths Tick Down — But Rose 58 Percent in the Last Decade

Road fatalities fell by a meager 4 percent in the first half of 2023.

February 27, 2024 - Governors Highway Safety Association

Close-up of 'No Right Turn on Red' sign in San Francisco, California.

Denver Road Safety Advocates Call for Banning Right Turns on Red

The city could join others that have ended the practice, which contributes to the high number of pedestrian deaths.

February 20, 2024 - ABC 7

Close-up shot of Hollywood Blvd street sign and pedestrian crossing signal with red 'Don't walk' hand lit.

Billboard Highlights LA’s Pedestrian Safety Crisis

According to road safety advocates, more pedestrians died on one Los Angeles street than in the entire state of Vermont in 2022.

February 19, 2024 - Business Insider

Aerial view of Denver, Colorado skyline at golden hour.

Denver Road Fatalities at Record High in 2023

The city says it is accelerating its Vision Zero initiative to improve road safety for pedestrians and vulnerable road users.

January 18, 2024 - The Denver Gazette

Blurred bicyclists riding through crosswalk with blue bus behind them.

Streetsblog’s Best and Worst of 2023 Transportation

While American roads didn’t get much safer by the numbers, new policies indicate a shift toward a more sustainable transportation future.

December 25, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Black and white "City speed limit 25 mph" sign in New York City with One World Trade Center building in distant background.

NYC Legislators Continue Fight to Set Own Speed Limits

Advocates say lower speed limits save lives and prevent fatal crashes on busy city streets.

December 21, 2023 - StreetsBlog NYC

Low view of empty crosswalk at night from middle of street with blurred cars speeding by on both sides.

The Vicious Cycle at the Heart of Pedestrian Safety

When people feel unsafe, they walk less; with fewer pedestrians, walking becomes less safe.

December 17, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Intersection with stoplights at night with one pedestrian waiting to cross.

Three-Quarters of U.S. Pedestrian Deaths Happen at Night

Unlike in comparable countries, U.S. pedestrians are most likely to die in traffic crashes during nighttime hours.

December 11, 2023 - The New York Times

Straight black asphalt road through forest with colorful fall foliage.

Study: Road Design, Speed Key Factors in Pedestrian Deaths

A recent study emphasizes the importance of good road design and low speed limits in keeping pedestrians safe.

October 30, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Yellow pedestrian crossing sign with black stick figures of mother and child crossing white crosswalk with blurred green trees on city street in background.

Opinion: To End Traffic Deaths, Cities Must Put Safety Over Speed

Eliminating road deaths requires an overhaul of U.S. infrastructure and regulations to prioritize the safety of people in cars, on foot, and on bikes.

October 24, 2023 - The New York Times

Worker in yellow safety suit holding up orange SLOW sign on road

Reforms Are Coming to American Road Design

The federal manual governing road design is getting an update. Will it encourage real progress toward road safety?

August 16, 2023 - National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)

Pedestrians crossing a busy crosswalk on New York City street with tall buildings in background

Study: Streets With High Foot Traffic Also See High Driving Speeds

A detailed study of where people walk reveals that driving speeds on many of the streets most used by pedestrians in U.S. cities are higher than recommended speeds, putting pedestrians at higher risk for serious injuries and death.

June 27, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

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