Pedestrian Fatalities See Decline, But Long-Term Trend Remains a Concern

A recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) indicates a welcome decrease in pedestrian fatalities across the United States for the third consecutive year. However, the data also reveals a starkly concerning long-term trend, with the number of pedestrians killed by drivers remaining significantly higher than in previous years.

The GHSA’s annual report, which compiles crash statistics from State Highway Safety Offices, found that 6,732 pedestrians were fatally struck in the most recent year for which data was available. While this represents a 7 percent decrease from the previous year, it signifies a 22.5 percent increase compared to 2015 and approximately a 70 percent rise since 2009.

Key facts

Encouraging Progress, Persistent Challenges

Jonathan Adkins, GHSA Chief Executive Officer, commented on the findings: “It’s encouraging to see fewer pedestrian deaths for the third straight year. Let’s keep this progress going until we reach zero deaths.” He stressed the importance of sustained vigilance and the implementation of “proven countermeasures,” including traffic enforcement targeting high-risk driving behaviours, education and outreach initiatives, and infrastructure improvements.

The report highlights that while progress is being made, more action is needed to address the underlying issues contributing to pedestrian fatalities. Other findings within the report paint a less optimistic picture, underscoring the need for continued focus on pedestrian safety strategies.

Varied State Trends

The report also noted a divergence in trends among individual states. A majority of states, 28 in total, are experiencing downward trends in pedestrian fatalities. However, 17 states reported an increase in pedestrian deaths in the most recent year compared to the year prior.

California stood out as an outlier with a significant positive trend, reporting a 22.4 percent decrease in pedestrian deaths. This drop, amounting to 239 fewer fatalities, accounted for more than half of the national decline. The report suggests that California’s success is partly attributed to its general support for Vision Zero strategies, a multi-national road safety project that aims to achieve a “zero vision” of road traffic deaths or serious injuries.

Vision Zero and Infrastructure

Vision Zero strategies typically involve a comprehensive approach to road safety, acknowledging that human error is inevitable but serious injuries and fatalities are preventable. This often includes a focus on infrastructure design that prioritizes vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists. While the Streetsblog USA article did not detail California’s specific infrastructure changes, the success of Vision Zero is often linked to making streets safer through measures like improved crosswalks, reduced speed limits, separated bike lanes, and traffic calming measures.

The GHSA plans to host a webinar on July 16 at 2 p.m. ET to further discuss the data and highlight innovative approaches being adopted by various states to enhance pedestrian safety.

The implications for London are clear: while national trends in the US offer some cause for optimism, the persistent long-term increase in pedestrian fatalities underscores the critical need for sustained investment in safer street design, effective traffic management, and public awareness campaigns. London, like other major global cities, must continue to prioritize pedestrian safety through its urban planning and transport policies to move towards a future with zero road deaths.

Source: Streetsblog USA, https://usa.streetsblog.org/2026/07/14/pedestrian-fatalities-drop-again-but-more-needs-to-be-done-says-governors-group