An analysis of data reported by State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) projects that 6,721 pedestrians were killed on U.S. roads in 2020, up 4.8% from 6,412 fatalities in 2019. The report examines key trends affecting this rise in pedestrian deaths, including increased reckless driving behaviors, the need for safer road crossings and efforts to make pedestrians more visible through better lighting and other strategies, and the continued uptick in sales of sport utility vehicles (SUVs), which cause more pedestrian serious and fatal injuries in the event of a collision. The report also discusses the need for a comprehensive approach that leverages engineering, public education, emergency response and equitable enforcement for reducing pedestrian-motor vehicles crashes and saving lives.
