The Growing Risk for Walkers in a Car-Dominated World

Pedestrian deaths in traffic accidents have surged in recent years across the United States. Despite advances in vehicle technology and safety awareness, more than 7,000 pedestrians were killed in 2022 alone—the highest number in four decades. As cities expand and roads get busier, the simple act of crossing the street has become increasingly dangerous.
This rise in pedestrian fatalities highlights a harsh truth: our urban infrastructure is built for cars, not people. From poorly marked crosswalks to intersections that prioritize vehicle flow over human movement, modern city planning often puts walkers at a distinct disadvantage. In some areas, sidewalks are narrow, lighting is poor, and signage is minimal—creating an environment where even a cautious pedestrian is vulnerable.
The tragedy lies in how avoidable many of these accidents are. Better design, smarter enforcement, and more thoughtful planning can make streets safer for everyone. But to do that, cities need to stop viewing pedestrian safety as an afterthought—and start recognizing it as a critical part of transportation strategy.

Crosswalks: Not All Are Created Equal

The word “crosswalk” suggests a safe place to cross the street—but in reality, not all crosswalks offer equal protection. Some are barely visible, painted with faded lines and placed far from traffic lights. Others lack signals entirely, relying on drivers to notice pedestrians and yield accordingly. And in fast-moving urban environments, that’s a dangerous gamble.
Research shows that marked crosswalks without additional safety features—like signals, raised platforms, or flashing beacons—don’t significantly reduce crash risk, especially on multi-lane roads. Drivers often fail to see or ignore pedestrians, particularly when sightlines are blocked by parked cars or visual clutter. And when collisions happen in these unprotected zones, they’re frequently severe.
Cities that have invested in enhanced crosswalk design—such as pedestrian refuge islands, curb extensions, and brightly lit signage—see better outcomes. The key isn’t just visibility but giving pedestrians both time and space to cross safely. Without that, a crosswalk becomes little more than painted hope.

The Speed Factor: Why Limits Matter More Than You Think

Vehicle speed is the single most critical factor in whether a pedestrian survives a crash. A person hit by a car at 20 mph has a 90% chance of surviving. At 40 mph, that chance drops below 20%. Yet many urban streets still have speed limits of 35 or 40 mph—even in areas with heavy foot traffic.
High speeds not only reduce a driver’s ability to stop in time, but also narrow their field of vision and delay reaction times. A driver traveling too fast through a city street may not even see a pedestrian until it’s too late. And because urban areas often mix cars, buses, cyclists, and walkers in close quarters, the margin for error shrinks quickly.
Enforcing speed limits, installing speed bumps, narrowing lanes, and lowering posted limits in dense areas are proven strategies for saving lives. When vehicles slow down, crashes become less likely—and less deadly. Pedestrian safety isn’t just about design; it’s about controlling the force of impact.

Intersection Design: A Flawed Formula

Many pedestrian accidents occur at intersections—places where people and vehicles are both trying to claim the same space. Unfortunately, traditional intersection design favors vehicle flow over pedestrian protection. Drivers making left or right turns often focus more on gaps in traffic than on whether someone is in the crosswalk.
Unsignalized intersections or those with short walk cycles create further problems. Pedestrians are often forced to make risky decisions, like stepping into the street when the signal is unclear or when cars don’t yield. In cities with high pedestrian volume, this confusion can lead to multiple near-misses—or worse—every hour of the day.
Some cities are adopting “leading pedestrian intervals” (LPIs), which give walkers a head start to enter the intersection before cars get the green light. Others are testing all-walk phases, where all traffic stops while pedestrians cross in every direction. These innovations aren’t new—but they’re rarely prioritized. Until they are, intersections will remain danger zones for anyone on foot.

Nighttime Vulnerability: When Visibility Disappears

Over 70% of pedestrian fatalities occur at night, when visibility is naturally lower and driver alertness is often compromised. Streetlights may be too dim, crosswalks poorly illuminated, and pedestrians dressed in dark clothing. Add in fatigue, alcohol, or distraction, and the risks multiply quickly.
Many roads were designed with vehicle headlights in mind, not pedestrian visibility. Long stretches between intersections, limited reflective surfaces, and wide lanes encourage high speeds—and leave little room for error. A pedestrian may be visible only for a second or two before a driver passes the point of no return.
Solutions here are both simple and effective: brighter lighting at crossings, reflective signs and markings, lower speed zones in pedestrian-heavy corridors, and public awareness campaigns about nighttime safety. But the bigger shift must come in how cities think about night design. It’s not enough for roads to be visible to cars. They must be visible to—and for—people walking too.

The Role of Driver Behavior in Pedestrian Crashes

Urban design matters—but driver behavior is equally influential in pedestrian safety. In many cities, drivers routinely fail to yield at crosswalks, make turns without checking for foot traffic, and treat pedestrians as obstacles rather than equal users of the road. These behaviors often stem from impatience, distraction, or simply a lack of awareness.
Mobile phone use while driving is a particularly alarming trend. A momentary glance at a screen can mean missing a pedestrian stepping into a crosswalk. In city environments where stop-and-go traffic is common, drivers tend to assume they’re moving slowly enough to avoid danger—an assumption that has proven deadly time and again.
Even when design is sound, safety fails if behavior doesn’t change. Public campaigns, stricter enforcement of pedestrian right-of-way laws, and visible police presence at high-risk intersections can help shift driver culture. But the ultimate fix requires drivers to treat pedestrians not as interruptions, but as people deserving of the same road rights and protections.

The Impact of Vehicle Size and Design

Another often-overlooked factor in pedestrian accidents is vehicle type. Over the last decade, SUVs and trucks have become the dominant vehicles on American roads. These larger, taller vehicles have different impact profiles than sedans—and those differences matter when it comes to pedestrian safety.
Larger vehicles tend to strike pedestrians higher on the body—often in the chest or head—resulting in more severe injuries and a higher fatality rate. They also have larger front-end blind spots, making it more difficult for drivers to see small children or people close to the vehicle. Studies have shown that the shift toward bulkier vehicles has directly contributed to the rise in pedestrian fatalities.
Regulatory changes in vehicle design—such as pedestrian-impact safety standards, improved hood structures, and better visibility requirements—can reduce harm. But consumers and manufacturers must also recognize their role. Choosing safer vehicles, equipping them with pedestrian detection systems, and advocating for design accountability are all part of the solution.

Children, Seniors, and the Most Vulnerable Pedestrians

Not all pedestrians face the same risk. Children and older adults are disproportionately affected in vehicle collisions due to their physical vulnerabilities and different ways of navigating the street. Children are shorter and more difficult for drivers to see; seniors may move slowly or have impaired hearing or vision.
School zones, senior living communities, and hospitals are high-risk areas that demand special attention. Crosswalk timers may not be long enough for elderly pedestrians to cross safely. Sidewalks may lack curb cuts or tactile surfaces for people with mobility or visual impairments. And busy roads near schools often have inadequate signage or supervision, putting children at heightened risk during pickup and drop-off hours.
Designing for the most vulnerable walkers means designing better for everyone. Raised crosswalks, pedestrian signals with audio cues, extended crossing times, and driver education around school zones are not just optional features—they’re essential for creating truly inclusive, safe urban spaces.

Smart City Solutions and Data-Driven Safety

Technology is beginning to transform how cities approach pedestrian safety. With smart sensors, real-time traffic data, and AI-powered analytics, municipalities can identify high-risk areas and adapt their infrastructure accordingly. These tools can track where near-misses happen, how long pedestrians wait at crosswalks, and where drivers are most likely to speed or fail to yield.
Some cities are using predictive modeling to anticipate where crashes are most likely to occur—even before they happen. Others are deploying dynamic crosswalks that light up as pedestrians approach, or integrating pedestrian alert systems into traffic signals. The rise of connected infrastructure is giving planners a new lens to proactively reduce pedestrian risk rather than reacting to tragedies.
But data is only powerful when acted upon. Too often, pedestrian safety upgrades are postponed due to budget constraints or political red tape. For technology to truly make a difference, it must be paired with urgency and commitment—because each day of delay leaves vulnerable people exposed to preventable harm.

Final Thoughts: Cities for People, Not Just Cars

Pedestrian-vehicle accidents are not random events. They’re the result of decisions—design choices, driver behavior, policy priorities. And while complete elimination of risk is unlikely, radical improvement is absolutely possible when cities commit to building streets around people, not just machines.
Every crosswalk, sidewalk, and intersection sends a message. It tells pedestrians whether they’re welcome, protected, and prioritized—or whether they’re an afterthought in a car-first system. If cities want to reduce pedestrian fatalities, they must make a conscious shift: slow vehicles down, give walkers more time and space, and treat pedestrian safety as non-negotiable.
We all share the road. And the more we design, drive, and legislate with that in mind, the fewer lives we’ll lose—and the more livable our communities will become. Because the true measure of a city’s greatness isn’t how fast its cars move, but how safely its people walk.