The purpose of this technical report is to analyze the latest trends in pedestrian fatalities and police-reported motor vehicle crashes involving a pedestrian in the United States since 1997. Key findings in the report are: • Pedestrian fatalities declined between 1997 and 2006. However, the probability of a pedestrian fatality in a crash increased while the probability of a pedestrian crash declined. • About two-thirds of pedestrian fatalities were in urban areas. Of the nearly 42,500 cities or towns listed according the U.S. Geographic Location Codes by the General Services Administration, only 13 percent of them accounted for those pedestrian fatalities in urban areas. • Nationwide, nearly two pedestrians died in vehicle crashes per 100,000 population, and a pedestrian crash death occurred every 70 million miles walked. • January 1 and October 31 were the two most deadly days of the year, having the highest number of pedestrian fatalities. • Pedestrians are more likely to be killed in a crash between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. or during the weekend on Saturday or Sunday. • Males have a much higher probability than females to be killed in a crash. • The older age group (over 64) has a much greater possibility than other age groups to be killed in a crash. • As a pedestrian’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) increases, the probability of a pedestrian getting killed in a crash increases. • Pedestrians have a higher possibility to be killed in non-speeding conditions than in speeding conditions based on fatality per crash. • Pedestrians are more likely to be killed in a crash under a sleet condition than under any other weather condition based on fatality per crash. • Pedestrians have a higher probability to be killed in a crash under a dark condition than under other light conditions. • With regard to posted speed limits, the higher the posted speed limit, the higher the probability of a pedestrian fatality. (Author/publisher)
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