New research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety indicates a significant rise in pedestrian fatalities in the United States, which have increased by over 80% since 2009. The data reveals that most of these deaths occur on urban arterial roads after dark. These roads are designed to facilitate traffic flow between metropolitan areas but often lack adequate lighting and pedestrian infrastructure such as sidewalks and crosswalks.
The AAA Foundation collaborated with the Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety to conduct case studies in Albuquerque, NM, Charlotte, NC, and Memphis, TN. The findings showed that pedestrian fatalities predominantly happen outside downtown areas—over four miles from city centers—and on arterial roads during nighttime. A concerning number of these incidents occur in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods where residents rely heavily on walking.
AAA emphasizes the need for city planners, public health officials, legislators, and traffic safety professionals to address this issue collaboratively. The study highlights several factors contributing to the problem: insufficient safe crossing locations, high pedestrian traffic volumes, poorly lit roads without continuous sidewalks, and challenges related to road ownership and policy implementation.
To improve pedestrian safety, AAA recommends targeting unsafe locations outside downtown areas for intervention, enhancing coordination between state and local governments regardless of road ownership, and adopting a Safe System approach that anticipates human errors while minimizing crash severity through comprehensive safety measures.
Drivers are urged to avoid risky behaviors such as speeding or driving under the influence and to exercise extra caution at night. Pedestrians should remain vigilant by using sidewalks and crosswalks whenever possible.
The full report is available online for further details.
About AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety: Established in 1947 by AAA, it is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing traffic deaths through research and education.