Where Traffic is Riskiest for U.S. Pedestrians

In the U.S. in 2024, 7,148 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes. Rising pedestrian fatalities have led to growing calls for safer road design, smarter enforcement, and better infrastructure.

Yet a persistent traffic safety myth continues to prevail: that slower-moving vehicles in congested cities make walking inherently safer. A new study challenges that assumption by showing that in many U.S. cities, low congestion doesn’t prevent pedestrian deaths.

This analysis, conducted by Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers, offers a data-driven perspective and identifies where pedestrian risk is disproportionately high, even when vehicle traffic is relatively low. In doing so, it uncovers a critical disconnect between perceived and actual safety.

Before we get into data that synthesizes congestion and danger, let’s take a look at raw pedestrian fatality numbers.

Measuring Cities By Raw Fatality Numbers

Of the 40,000+ annual U.S. road traffic deaths, pedestrians are disproportionately affected, with pedestrian fatality numbers soaring over recent years. Between 2013 and 2022, U.S. traffic-related death rates increased by 22.5%; yet the increase for pedestrians was significantly higher (50.0%).

This is despite the fact that, in 27 other high-income countries, traffic-related fatality numbers and pedestrian death figures declined by 24.7% and 19.4%, respectively. 

Of pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. in 2023, 52.8% were killed due to a driver’s failure to yield the right of way. Other significant numbers of pedestrian fatalities were due to improper roadway or intersection crossing (1,587), dangerous and irregular standing, lying, working, or playing in the road (901), not being seen due to dark clothing or poor lighting (852), and suddenly running into the road (714).

Here are the overall numbers of states with the most pedestrian fatalities during 2023

State Pedestrians Killed

1. California 1106
2. Texas 800
3. Florida 771
4. Georgia 310
5. New York 289
6. Arizona 271
7. North Carolina 229
8. Illinois 199
9. South Carolina 187
10. Tennessee 186

And here are the states featuring the least number of pedestrian fatalities during the same year.

State Pedestrians Killed

1. Vermont 5
2. North Dakota 10
3. Rhode Island 11
4. Wyoming 11
5. Alaska 12
6. Nebraska 13
7. DC 14
8. New Hampshire 15
9. South Dakota 15
10. West Virginia 15

Looking at raw numbers is one means of assessing pedestrian danger. But what about danger when measured alongside congestion? 

Methodology: Measuring Danger Per Hour of Congestion

To rank problematic cities, this study draws on data from INRIX’s 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard to identify the 25 metros with the most hours lost to traffic per driver.

In each case, we paired this data with each state’s 2023 pedestrian fatality rate (based on data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)). 

The Pedestrian Danger-Per-Congestion Index was calculated by dividing the fatality rate by the annual hours of congestion in each metro area. Higher index values indicate more pedestrian danger per unit of traffic delay. San Juan, PR, was included for completeness but excluded from the index due to the absence of comparable state-level fatality data. 

By structuring the data this way, the analysis highlights cities where infrastructure may be failing pedestrians despite traffic conditions that should reduce crash severity.

The Five Most Dangerous Metros for Pedestrians

The following cities face high pedestrian fatality rates despite relatively low traffic congestion.

• Tampa, FL (Index: 0.100): Tampa suffers a high fatality rate despite just 28 hours of annual congestion.
• New Orleans, LA (0.081): Although New Orleans experiences limited traffic delays, it’s still subject to consistently high pedestrian fatality numbers.
• Phoenix, AZ (0.077): Sprawling roads and high arterial speeds raise crash severity in Phoenix.
• Austin, TX (0.067): Austin’s rapidly expanding population is outpacing its safety infrastructure.
• San Antonio, TX (0.067): San Antonio suffers from some of the same problems Austin must negotiate: rapid expansion that means work is urgently needed on its lagging infrastructure.

Each of the metro areas in question records fewer than 40 congestion hours per year, below the U.S. average of 43.

The Safest Cities Pair Congestion With Walkability

At the other end of the danger index are the metros where pedestrian safety remains strong even amid high congestion. Here are some of the leading examples.

• Boston, MA (Index: 0.012): The safest city in the study, with walkable infrastructure despite 79 hours of traffic congestion.
• New York, NY (0.015): New York suffers high congestion levels (102 hours), yet relatively low pedestrian fatalities due to cleverly planned pedestrian features.
• Chicago, IL (0.016): A dense, transit-heavy city, yet Chicago features strong pedestrian infrastructure.
• Philadelphia, PA (0.019): Significantly slower urban speeds contribute to a lower fatality risk in Philadelphia.
• Stamford, CT (0.028): A relatively small, highly walkable metro with lower-than-average statewide fatality rates.

These cities show that heavy congestion need not mean high levels of pedestrian danger, as long as infrastructure is designed to support people who want to get about their area on foot.

Southern Cities Lead in Per-Hour Danger

Study data emphasize consistent regional pedestrian danger differentials, with the South posting the highest per-hour danger numbers.

• Southern metros averaged an index of 0.058, nearly triple that of the Northeast (0.021).
  
• Florida and Texas combined for six of the top 15 most dangerous metros.
  
• Eight of the ten most dangerous metros are located in the Southern U.S..
  
• Northeastern metros dominate the safer half of the index, with strong walkability and transit.

Many Southern cities developed by prioritizing the use of automobiles, with wide, fast-moving roads and limited pedestrian crossings. By contrast, Northeastern metros typically evolved before cars and feature shorter blocks, lower speeds, and more protected pedestrian environments.

What’s Contributing to High Pedestrian Risk

Beyond road design and congestion levels, the study aligns with national data pointing to common causes of fatal pedestrian crashes. Here are some key takeaways:

• Drivers failing to yield are responsible for more than half of pedestrian fatalities.
  
• Improper roadway crossing, mid-block or against signals, is another significant danger factor.
  
• Poor visibility makes things much more dangerous, though this is often due to inadequate lighting and/or dark clothing.
  
• High-speed corridors, especially in areas without traffic-calming features, often feature high accident and fatality statistics.

These types of features are more prevalent in fast-growing metros with limited investment in pedestrian safety rather than in dense, older cities where road design naturally slows vehicles down.

Why Design Matters More Than Traffic Speed

The takeaway is clear: congestion alone doesn’t determine whether a city is safe for pedestrians. In cities like Tampa and Phoenix, relatively open roads contribute to high fatality rates because drivers move faster and pedestrians have fewer protections. 

Meanwhile, in places like Boston and New York, slower speeds, more, better situated crossings, and enhanced visibility create safer walking environments. This is true even in the nation’s most traffic-clogged metros.

Cities seeking to improve pedestrian safety must prioritize infrastructure in tandem with traffic flow planning. That means prioritizing slower speeds, safer crossings, public transit, and enforcement in the areas that need it most. Good design equals safer pedestrians and drivers.

What This Means for City Leaders, Planners, and Advocates

This research reflects our ongoing commitment at Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers to advocate for safer roads and better outcomes for injured pedestrians and their families.

As legal advocates and public safety stakeholders, we believe cities must rethink what truly makes a street safe. With pedestrian fatalities steeply rising over the past few years, more consideration needs to be given to their safety.

Stronger enforcement, better design, and more accountability can reduce risk far more effectively than traffic patterns alone. Whether we’re supporting policy reform or representing victims after a serious crash, our team remains focused on creating better outcomes for vulnerable road users. 

If you or a loved one has been involved in a collision and needs a trusted Long Island car accident lawyer, we’re here to help you take the next step.