Latest Findings Don’t Bode Well for the Bay State
While pedestrian deaths have declined nationwide, Massachusetts is unfortunately trending in the opposite direction, according to data highlighted by AAA Northeast.
Figures from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) show that 7,148 pedestrians were killed in U.S. traffic crashes in 2024, a 4.3% decrease from 2023. Even with the second consecutive annual decline, however, the total number of pedestrian deaths remains 11.5% higher than in 2019, when 6,412 pedestrians were killed before the pandemic.
“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.”
Massachusetts sees a 16% increase from last year
In contrast, GHSA estimates 78 pedestrians died in crashes in Massachusetts in 2024, an increase of 16% from 2023.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that alcohol continues to play a major role in pedestrian fatalities: 46% of all fatal pedestrian crashes in 2023 involved a driver and/or pedestrian with a blood-alcohol content of 0.01 or higher. Most fatalities occurred at night (77%), and nearly one in four (24%) pedestrians were killed by hit-and-run drivers.
According to AAA research, speed greatly affects survival odds. The average risk of death for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle is:
- 10% at 23 mph
- 25% at 32 mph
- 50% at 42 mph
- 75% at 50 mph
- 90% at 58 mph
Risk also varies by age and vehicle type—particularly as SUVs continue to grow larger and more powerful.
