2023 SafeTREC Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrian Safety

Introduction

Pedestrian crashes are defined as crashes where one or more victims is a pedestrian.  As a commute mode, walking is gaining in numbers. Along with that, pedestrian fatalities are also increasing. 

Pedestrian safety pertains to safe road users, safe speeds, safe roads, and post-crash care elements of Federal Highway Administration’s Safe System. Analyses presented in the pedestrian program area include fatal and serious injuries to pedestrians. The  Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) only includes pedestrians on foot, whereas the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) fatal and serious injury analysis includes both pedestrians and persons on personal conveyances, e.g., skateboards, wheelchairs, etc.

Breakdown of Pedestrian Fatalities Nationwide and in California in 2021

Break-down of pedestrian fatalities nationwide and in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.


Data Source: i) Stewart, T. (2023). Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021. DOT HS 813 435. NHTSA. Table 3, page 9; ii) State Traffic Safety Information (STSI). Traffic Safety Performance (Core Outcome)Measures for California. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, C-10

Summary 

  • In 2021 nationwide, 17 percent (or 7388) of all motor vehicle fatalities were pedestrians. 

  • In 2021 in California, 26 percent (or 1108) of all motor vehicle fatalities were pedestrians.

Nationwide Pedestrian Fatality Rate in 2021

Infographic detailing pedestrian fatality frequency nationwide in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data Source: Stewart, T. (2023). Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021. DOT HS 813 435. NHTSA. Table 3, page 9

Summary 

  • In 2021, an average of 20 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes every day

Between 2011 and 2021, pedestrian fatalities increased by 65.8 percent.

Pedestrian Fatality Trends Nationwide and in California from 2017 to 2021

Trend-line chart detailing pedestrian fatalities nationwide and in California from 2017 to 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2017 – 2020 Final File & 2021 ARF

Summary

  • Nationally, 7388 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2021.

  • In California, there were 1108 pedestrians killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021.

  •  Pedestrian fatalities increased nationally by 12.5  percent between 2020 and 2021.

  • Pedestrian fatalities increased in California 9.4 percent between 2020 and 2021.

Nationwide Summary

The Governor’s Highway Safety Association found that from 2015 to 2019 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) were overrepresented in pedestrian crashes.

Non-Hispanic Black or African American Pedestrian Fatalities Rate Nationwide from 2015 to 2019

Non-Hispanic Black or African American Pedestrian Fatalities Rate from 2015 to 2019. For more information, please see the following summary.

Data Source: Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). (2023, April). Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State, 2021 Preliminary Data. p26

https://www.ghsa.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/Pedestrian%20Traffic%20Fatalities%20by%20State%20-%202021%20Preliminary%20Data%20%28January-December%29.pdf

Summmary 

  • Non-Hispanic Black and African American people were 12 percent of the total population from 2015-2019 but represented 21 percent of pedestrian fatalities.

  • American Indians accounted for 0.7 percent of the population from 2015-2019, but accounted for 2.4 percent of pedestrian fatalities.

California Summary 

The figures in this section refer to pedestrians fatally and seriously injured in a crash in California in 2021. 

Pedestrian Fatalities and Serious Injuries by County in 2021

Top 5 Counties in California by Fatalities

RankingCountiesFatalities
1Los Angeles295
2San Diego103
3San Bernardino91
4Riverside73
5Sacramento71

Top 5 Counties in California by Fatalities Per 100k Population

RankingCountyFatalities Per 100k Population
1Siskiyou6.8
2Imperial6.7
3Trinity6.2
4Tehama6.1
5Merced6.1

Top 5 Counties in California by Serious Injuries

RankingCountySerious Injuries
1Los Angeles933
2San Diego155
3San Bernardino136
4Sacramento134
5Orange118

Top 5 Counties in California by Serious Injuries Per 100k Population

RankingCountySerious Injuries Per 100k Population
1Amador22.2
2Inyo15.8
3Trinity12.4
4Merced11.4
5Yuba11.0

Note: The ranking for the number of fatalities per 100k population is based on unrounded calculations. 

Data source: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2021; ii) Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2021 iii) 2020 Census State Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary File, U.S. Census Bureau.

Primary Crash Factors and Crash Types for Pedestrian Fatal and Serious Injury (FSI) Crashes

Top Five Primary Crash Factors of Pedestrian Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes in California (2021)

Bar chart detailing the top 5 most common primary crash factors in pedestrian fatal and serious injury crashes in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Note: Pedestrian violations occur when a pedestrian commits a violation, whereas a pedestrian right-of-way is defined as when a pedestrian’s right-of-way is violated. However, neither indicates which party is at fault for the crash. For more information on the different Crash Types, please see the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) Help FAQ page, in the Codebook - Crash Level Section

Data source: Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2021

Summary 

  • Pedestrian Violation was the most common primary crash factor in pedestrian FSI crashes in 2021 making up 51.2 percent, followed by pedestrian right of way and unsafe speed accounting for 16.0 and 8.2 percent respectively. 

  • Unknown followed by improper turning made up the fourth and fifth most common primary crash factor in pedestrian FSI crashes in 2021 accounting for 7.2 and 4.4 percent respectively. 

Crash Location for Fatal Pedestrian Crashes

Crash Location of Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in California in 2021

nfographic detailing the breakdown of pedestrian fatal crashes by location in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Note: Urban and Rural areas are defined in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) based on the boundaries decided by the US Census Bureau which considers population and housing density. 

Data source: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2021; ii) California Public Road Data 2020. pp. 15-17, Table 4 2020 HPMS.

https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/research-innovation-system-information/documents/california-public-road-data/prd-2020-a11y.pdf

Summary

  • Urban crashes accounted for 91 percent of all fatal pedestrian crashes compared to the 9 percent that occurred on rural roads.

  • Principal arterials were the most common location for  fatal pedestrian crashes accounting for 37 percent. 

  • Minor arterials, followed by interstates made up the second and third most common crash locations in fatal pedestrian crashes accounting for 20 and 14 percent respectively.  

  • Other Freeways and Expressways, Major Collectors, Local streets, Minor Collectors, and Unknown Trafficway Not in State Inventory constitute the remaining 29 percent.

Victim Demographics for Pedestrian Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes

Gender, Age and Race in Victims in Fatal and Serious Injury Pedestrian Crashes in California in 2021

Infographic detailing the gender, age and race of pedestrians in fatal and serious injury crashes in California in 2021.

Data sources: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2021; ii) Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2021

Summary 

  • Male pedestrian fatalities made up 71 percent of pedestrian fatalities while also making up 67 percent of all seriously injured pedestrians in 2021.

  • Pedestrian fatalities aged 15-34 were the most represented group in pedestrian crashes in 2021, making up 20.4 percent of fatalities and 20.8 of serious injuries. 

  • Race was reported in only 31.9 percent of pedestrian fatalities in 2021. Of the 354 pedestrian fatalities in 2021 with a known race, 77 percent were white.

Top Five Crash Types of Pedestrian Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes in California (2021)

Bar chart detailing the top 5 most common primary crash types in pedestrian fatal and serious injury crashes in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Note: For more information on the different Crash Types, please see the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) Help FAQ page, in the Codebook - Crash Level Section

Data source: Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2021

Summary

  • Vehicle/Pedestrian crashes were the most common type of pedestrian FSI crashes in 2021 making up 88.4 percent, followed by head-on (2.9 percent) and broadside (2.3 percent).

  • Sideswipe crashes followed by rear end crashes made up the fourth and fifth most common type of pedestrian FSI crashes in 2021 accounting for 2.0 and 1.9 percent respectively.

Time and Day of Fatal and Serious Injury Pedestrian Crashes

Time and Day of Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in California in 2021

Infographic detailing the most common day and time of day in fatal pedestrian crashes in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2021

Summary

  • The peak period of all fatal pedestrian crashes in 2021 was Friday evening between 6pm and 9pm.

  • 53.2  percent of all fatal pedestrian crashes in 2021 occurred between 6pm and Midnight.

  • 33.2  percent of fatal pedestrian crashes in 2021 occurred on Friday and Saturday.

Time and Day of Serious Injury Pedestrian Crashes in California in 2021

Infographic detailing the most common day and time of day in serious injury pedestrian crashes in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data source: Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2021

Summary

  • The peak period of all serious injury pedestrian crashes in 2021 was Monday evening between 6pm and 9pm.

  • 46.0 percent of all serious injury pedestrian crashes in 2021 occurred between 6pm and midnight. 

  • 31.1 percent of serious injury pedestrian crashes in 2021 occurred on Saturday and Sunday.

Data definitions expressed as queries are available in the data dictionary on google sheets. 

References

  1. State Traffic Safety Information (STSI) Traffic Safety Performance (Core Outcome) Measures for California. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://cdan.dot.gov/stsi.htm#. Accessed on 8/30/2023.

  2. Stewart, T. (2023, April). Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021 (Report No. DOT HS813 435). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

  3. Federal Highway Administration . (2023, August 4). Zero deaths and safe system. Zero Deaths and Safe System | FHWA. https://highways.dot.gov/safety/zero-deaths 

  4. U.S. Census Bureau. (2021, October 8). 2020 census: Redistricting file (public law 94-171) dataset. Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2020/dec/2020-census-redistricting-... 

  5. Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). (2023, April). Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State, 2021 Preliminary Data https://www.ghsa.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/Pedestrian%20Traffic%20Fatalities%20by%20State%20-%202021%20Preliminary%20Data%20%28January-December%29.pdf

  6. California Department of Transportation. (2021, December). California Public Road Data 2020.

This report was prepared in cooperation with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of OTS.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.