Pedestrians generally experience more risk on the road than those in vehicles. Motor vehicles have safety systems including restraints and airbags that can save someone’s life should a crash occur. Pedestrians have no metal structure or restraints present to protect them from violent vehicle collisions.
Many people struck by vehicles develop serious injuries, and pedestrians can easily die in crashes caused by vehicles, especially when the vehicles involved travel at faster speeds. Pedestrians technically have risk anywhere, but some states see far more deadly pedestrian crashes than ever. According to a recent review of collision statistics, Arizona is almost the most dangerous state in the entire country for pedestrians.
Arizona had the second-highest rate of pedestrian deaths
Looking just at the number of deaths in any state can give someone an inaccurate idea about the local risk. After all, some states have substantially more people living there than others. Comparing the total number of pedestrian deaths in California to the total number of pedestrian deaths in South Dakota produces an unrealistic idea about overall risk.
Researchers often adjust data based on population information in different jurisdictions. According to data from 2022, Arizona was one of the deadliest states for pedestrians, with 4.17 fatalities per 100,000 residents. The only state with a higher rate of pedestrian deaths was New Mexico.
While other states may have had more deaths overall than Arizona, when comparing the fatalities with the number of residents in the state, Arizona quickly stands out as one of the most dangerous places to walk on public roads. Research into municipalities where pedestrian crashes were more likely found that Phoenix was one of the 30 most dangerous cities in the country, in part because of how many streets with high levels of pedestrian traffic also have speed limits over 35 miles per hour.
Those who walk as a form of transportation or for exercise do not need to stop doing so just because they are at risk of a crash. Knowing the risk and adjusting safety practices accordingly could help people avoid pedestrian collisions caused by motor vehicles. Those affected by pedestrian crashes may also need to learn about personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits to hold the driver who hit them accountable.
