Pedestrian deaths have fallen for the first time since the pandemic

Crossing the street is finally becoming a little safer. After reaching a 40-year high in 2022, pedestrian deaths declined in 2023, according to a report released Wednesday by the Governors Highway Safety Association.

The report shows a 5.4% decline in annual pedestrian deaths, the first decline since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The association’s CEO, Jonathan Adkins, says the progress is a step in the right direction.

“We’re happy to see it go down, but we’re not celebrating,” Adkins said.

The number of fatalities – 7,318 – is still much higher than in 2019, before the pandemic. But Adkins said there are indications that new safety initiatives could help. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also says that the total number of traffic fatalities in 2024 is trending downward so far.

Road safety advocates have pushed for a variety of measures, including lower speed limits, more sidewalks and better lighting in pedestrian areas. Adkins says combining multiple methods is key to preventing deaths.

“There’s a lot of construction going on around the country that’s making the roadway safer. We’re engaging law enforcement in some new and creative ways,” Adkins said. “We’re looking at vehicle technology. So we’re doing a lot of different things, and that’s a different approach to safety in the United States.”

He cited California, which saw the largest decline in pedestrian deaths, for working closely with local governments. “That’s different than, certainly, historically, road safety,” he said.

Adkins says the report’s findings could reflect the beginning of a new trend in pedestrian safety as initiatives continue to be implemented across the United States.

“It really only started in the last couple of years. And I’m hopeful that that’s starting to pay off,” he said.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that many pedestrian deaths in 2023 occurred at night in areas without sidewalks. They most likely involved SUVs or other large vehicles.

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