Greater than 4,000 pedestrians misplaced their lives in simply 5 states in 2023, based on new analysis from Bader Legislation. California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and New York recorded the best numbers of pedestrian deaths, collectively accounting for a disproportionate share of the nation’s fatalities.
The entire in these states rivals all the nationwide demise toll from simply twenty years in the past, underscoring the severity of the present pedestrian security disaster.
The place Strolling Is Deadliest
The examine discovered that 5 states stand far above the remainder with regards to pedestrian deaths:
California – 1,100 deaths, concentrated in Los Angeles and San Francisco metro areas.
Texas – 900 deaths, many linked to suburban arterials and main highways intersecting dense city communities.
Florida – 850 deaths, with dangers heightened in tourist-heavy coastal cities and late-night leisure districts.
Georgia – 700 deaths, reflecting suburban sprawl the place sidewalks and protected crossings are sometimes absent.
New York – 500 deaths, with New York Metropolis and its surrounding metro space accounting for almost all.
Collectively, these 5 states accounted for over 4,000 fatalities, far outweighing their share of the U.S. inhabitants.
The Function of Smartphones
Distraction was recognized as a key issue behind rising pedestrian deaths. Throughout noticed crossings within the examine areas:
Almost 50% of pedestrians confirmed seen distraction.
Pedestrians utilizing telephones have been 4 instances extra more likely to ignore crosswalk indicators.
60% did not test for visitors earlier than entering into the road.
Cellphone use elevated common crossing time by 18%, protecting pedestrians in energetic visitors lanes longer.
This pattern highlights how smartphone use has develop into a defining threat issue on America’s streets.
Why These States Stand Out
A number of systemic points amplify the risks in these states:
City density + high-speed visitors: Vehicles are not often slowed to prioritize pedestrians, even in busy metropolis cores.
Tourism and nightlife: Florida and New York’s leisure hubs see heavy foot visitors throughout peak threat hours, 6–10 p.m.
Multilane intersections: Broad crossings with no refuge house give pedestrians little margin for error.
Fast progress corridors: Texas, Georgia, and Florida have skilled booming suburban growth, however street design typically lags behind, leaving pedestrians to navigate unsafe environments.
What Can Be Accomplished
A spokesperson for Bader Legislation mentioned:
“When the highest 5 states account for such an enormous share of deaths, it’s a transparent signal that prevention methods have to scale. We all know distraction adjustments crossing conduct — and we all know methods to design streets to guard in opposition to it.”
The report highlights a number of options, together with:
Longer pedestrian sign instances and unique pedestrian phases at visitors lights
Improved lighting at intersections and midblock crossings
Refuge islands and curb extensions to shorten crossing distances
Site visitors-calming designs that sluggish autos in high-foot-traffic areas
Public schooling campaigns concerning the dangers of utilizing telephones on the curb
The Larger Image
The focus of fatalities in simply 5 states means that focused coverage and infrastructure adjustments might save 1000’s of lives yearly.
With smartphone use persevering with to rise and local weather change pushing extra folks outdoor, consultants warn that counting on good pedestrian consideration is each unrealistic and unsafe. As a substitute, avenue design and visitors coverage should adapt to human conduct.
Pedestrian security specialists argue {that a} mixture of federal steerage and native implementation can be important to reversing these traits. With out significant intervention, the dangers in high-fatality states are more likely to improve additional as visitors volumes develop, tourism expands, and distracted strolling turns into much more frequent.
