New Findings from AAA During National Pedestrian Safety Month
78 pedestrians in died in crashes in Massachusetts in 2024, up a sobering 16% from the year prior. In comparison, nationally 7,148 pedestrians were killed in U.S. traffic crashes in 2024, down 4.3% from 2023, according to preliminary data from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). And while a decline in pedestrian deaths for a second consecutive year is encouraging, the number of pedestrians killed in 2024 is still 11.5% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019, when 6,412 pedestrians died.
The following data was outlined in a new study from AAA Northeast in honor of National Pedestrian Safety Month to highlight the importance of safe driving to reduce the staggering number of pedestrian deaths and injuries in traffic collisions each year across the U.S.
“Walking should be a safe and easy way to get around town, but on average, a pedestrian is killed every 72 minutes and injured every 8 minutes across the country,” said Mark Schieldrop, senior spokesperson for AAA Northeast. “To ensure pedestrians get to their destinations safely, drivers should ditch the distractions, slow down near crosswalks and never get behind the wheel impaired.”
Drunk Driving still a major cause of pedestrian deaths
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals that alcohol is a significant factor in pedestrian deaths: 46% of all fatal pedestrian crashes in 2023 involved a driver and/or pedestrian with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.01 or higher. Additionally, the majority of pedestrian fatalities occurred in the dark (77%) and nearly 1 out of every 4 (24%) pedestrians were killed by hit-and-run drivers.
Speed also plays a major role. The average risk of death is 10% for a pedestrian struck at an impact speed of 23 mph, increasing to 25% at 32 mph, 50% at 42 mph, 75% at 50 mph and 90% at 58 mph, according to AAA research. Risks vary significantly by age and by type of vehicle, which is especially relevant as SUVs continue to rise in popularity and become larger and more powerful.
