2024 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 2022

Break-down of pedestrian fatalities nationwide and in California in 2022. For more information, go to the following summary.


Data Source: i) National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2024, June, Revised). Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2022. DOT HS 813 560. NHTSA,  table 4 page 6; 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 2022 nationwide, 18 percent (or 7,522) of all motor vehicle fatalities were pedestrians. 

  • In 2022 in California, 26 percent (or 1,158) of all motor vehicle fatalities were pedestrians.

Nationwide Pedestrian Fatality Rate in 2022

Infographic detailing pedestrian fatality frequency nationwide in 2022. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data Source: Adapted from the National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2024, June, Revised). Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2022. DOT HS 813 560. NHTSA,  table 4 page 6;

Summary 

  • In 2022, an average of 21 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes every day

Between 2012 and 2022, pedestrian fatalities increased by 77.3 percent.

Pedestrian Fatality Trends Nationwide and in California from 2018 to 2022

Trend-line chart detailing pedestrian fatalities nationwide and in California from 2018 to 2022. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2018 – 2021 Final File & 2022 ARF

Summary

  • Nationally, 7,522 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2022.

  • In California, there were 1,158 pedestrians killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2022.

  •  Pedestrian fatalities increased nationally by 0.7 percent between 2021 and 2022.

  • Pedestrian fatalities decreased in California by 1.8 percent between 2021 and 2022.

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.

Breakdown of Pedestrian Fatalities at Intersection Nationwide and in California in 2022

Break-down of pedestrian fatalities at intersections nationwide and in California in 2022. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2018 – 2021 Final File & 2022 ARF

Summary

  • In 2022 nationwide, 24 percent (or 1,803) of all motor vehicle fatalities were pedestrians that occured at intersection or other/unknown. 

  • In 2022 in California, 27 percent (or 309) of all motor vehicle fatalities were pedestrians that occured at intersection or other/unknown. 

California Summary 

The figures in this section refer to pedestrians fatally and seriously injured in a crash in California in 2022. 

Pedestrian Fatalities and Serious Injuries by County in 2022

Top 5 Counties in California by Fatalities

RankingCountiesFatalities
1Los Angeles305
2San Bernardino102
3San Diego95
4Sacramento86
5Riverside72

Top 5 Counties in California by Fatalities Per 100k Population

RankingCountyFatalities Per 100k Population
1Humboldt6.0
2Lake5.9
3Sacramento5.5
4Inyo5.3
5Kern5.3

Top 5 Counties in California by Serious Injuries

RankingCountySerious Injuries
1Los Angeles889
2San Diego157
3Orange134
4Sacramento119
5San Bernardino114

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

RankingCountySerious Injuries Per 100k Population
1Alpine84.0
2Inyo13.4
3Trinity10.8
4Merced9.2
5Yuba9.0

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 2022; ii) Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2022 iii) State of California, Department of Finance, E-4 Population Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State, 2021-2024, with 2020 Census Benchmark. Sacramento, California, May 2024.

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 (2022)

Bar chart detailing the top 5 most common primary crash factors in pedestrian fatal and serious injury crashes in California in 2022. 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) 2022

Summary 

  • Pedestrian Violation was the most common primary crash factor in pedestrian FSI crashes in 2022 making up 52.1 percent, followed by pedestrian right of way and unsafe speed accounting for 16.5 and 7.9 percent respectively. 

  • Unknown followed by improper turning made up the fourth and fifth most common primary crash factor in pedestrian FSI crashes in 2022 accounting for 7.1 and 3.9 percent respectively. 

Crash Location for Fatal Pedestrian Crashes

Crash Location of Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in California in 2022

nfographic detailing the breakdown of pedestrian fatal crashes by location in California in 2022. 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 2022; 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 92 percent of all fatal pedestrian crashes compared to the 8 percent that occurred on rural roads.

  • Principal arterials were the most common location for fatal pedestrian crashes accounting for 36 percent. 

  • Minor arterials, followed by interstates made up the second and third most common crash locations in fatal pedestrian crashes accounting for 24 and 14 percent respectively.  

  • Other Freeways and Expressways, Major Collectors, Local streets, Minor Collectors, and Unknown Trafficway Not in State Inventory constitute the remaining 26 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 2022

Infographic detailing the gender, age and race of pedestrians in fatal and serious injury crashes in California in 2022.

Data sources: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2022; ii) Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2022

Summary 

  • Male pedestrian fatalities made up 70 percent of pedestrian fatalities while also making up 62 percent of all seriously injured pedestrians in 2022.

  • Pedestrian fatalities aged 15-34 were the most represented group in pedestrian crashes in 2022, making up 19.8 percent of fatalities and 21.0 of serious injuries. 

  • Race was reported in only 36.1 percent of pedestrian fatalities in 2022. Of the 418 pedestrian fatalities in 2022 with a known race, 73 percent were white.

Top Five Crash Types of Pedestrian Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes in California (2022)

Bar chart detailing the top 5 most common primary crash types in pedestrian fatal and serious injury crashes in California in 2022. 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) 2022

Summary

  • Vehicle/Pedestrian crashes were the most common type of pedestrian FSI crashes in 2022 making up 87.0 percent, followed by head-on (3.0 percent) and broadside (3.0 percent).

  • Rear end crashes followed by sideswipe crashes made up the fourth and fifth most common type of pedestrian FSI crashes in 2022 accounting for 2.5 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 2022

Infographic detailing the most common day and time of day in fatal pedestrian crashes in California in 2022. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2022

Summary

  • The peak period of all fatal pedestrian crashes in 2022 was Saturday evening between 6pm and 9pm.

  • 50.2 percent of all fatal pedestrian crashes in 2022 occurred between 6pm and Midnight.

  • 29.9 percent of fatal pedestrian crashes in 2022 occurred on Monday and Saturday.

Time and Day of Serious Injury Pedestrian Crashes in California in 2022

Infographic detailing the most common day and time of day in serious injury pedestrian crashes in California in 2022. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data source: Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2022

Summary

  • The peak period of all serious injury pedestrian crashes in 2022 was Friday evening between 6pm and 9pm.

  • 44.1 percent of all serious injury pedestrian crashes in 2022 occurred between 6pm and midnight. 

  • 31.4 percent of serious injury pedestrian crashes in 2022 occurred on Wednesday and Friday.

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 8/30/2024

  2. National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2024, June, Revised). Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2022. DOT HS 813 560. NHTSA.

  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. State of California, Department of Finance, E-4 Population Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State, 2021-2024, with 2020 Census Benchmark. Sacramento, California, May 2024.

  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.