Pedestrian Deaths are on the Rise, New Mexico Tops List

The rise in pedestrian deaths across the United States is more than a statistical spike. It is a reflection of how vehicle design trends and driving behaviors are changing the risks people face simply by walking near roadways. According to a recent study authored by Bader Law, the first half of 2024 saw 3,304 pedestrian fatalities. Although that figure is slightly lower than the same period in 2023, it still marks a 48 percent increase since 2014 and represents over a thousand more lives lost compared to a decade ago.

Some states have consistently reported higher death rates, such as New Mexico, which tops the list with nearly five pedestrian deaths per 100,000 residents. Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana follow closely, while states like Arizona, Mississippi, and California round out the top ten. But the geographic distribution only tells part of the story.

What is more telling are the year-over-year changes. Nebraska led the country in the rate of increase, with pedestrian deaths surging by 150 percent. Alaska, Connecticut, Missouri, and Kansas were not far behind, all seeing increases above 40 percent. This trend is deeply concerning for policymakers and urban planners who continue to search for solutions amid a shifting transportation landscape.

The Bader Law study identified two critical contributors to these deaths: speeding and vehicle size. Both are escalating problems with compounding consequences. In 2022 alone, 12,151 people were killed in speed-related crashes. Roughly 18 percent of all traffic fatalities involved pedestrians. That number has jumped 83 percent since 2009. Driving faster doesn’t just shorten reaction time; it significantly increases the severity of the impact when a pedestrian is struck.

Experimental data from vehicle impact simulations illustrates just how precarious the situation becomes with speed. A pedestrian hit by a median-sized passenger vehicle at 24 kilometers per hour has a 10 percent chance of serious injury. Increase that speed to 35 kilometers per hour, and the risk of moderate to fatal injury climbs to 50 percent. At 68 kilometers per hour, the odds of pedestrian fatality hit the same mark, an unforgiving coin toss.

Add vehicle size into the mix, and those risks climb further. The study compared injuries sustained from collisions with standard passenger vehicles against those involving larger pickups and SUVs. Just a slight increase in vehicle height altered the injury landscape. At 24 kilometers per hour, risk of serious injury edged up from 10 percent to 10.8 percent with pickups. The likelihood of suffering a MAIS 2+F injury rose from 59 percent to 82 percent when struck by a larger vehicle. For severe injuries, that rate doubled from 29 percent to 60 percent.

The placement and design of high front ends on pickups and sport utility vehicles are particularly dangerous. These hoods strike pedestrians at torso height rather than the legs, which often results in victims being thrown forward into the vehicle’s path, increasing the chance of fatal outcomes. Compounding the concern is their dominance in the consumer market. By 2022, pickups, SUVs, and vans made up nearly 80 percent of new vehicle sales and leases in the U.S. By contrast, smaller vehicles, those more pedestrian-friendly, dropped to just 21 percent of sales, down from 50 percent in 2012.

The implications go beyond statistics. Roads originally designed for mixed use are now hosting vehicles that are disproportionately large and fast. This mismatch is reshaping neighborhoods and contributing to challenges in historic districts and small towns, where maneuvering oversized vehicles can be a logistical nightmare and a safety hazard. Cities like Wickford, Abilene, and Taos are quaint and walkable but increasingly disrupted by vehicles ill-suited for narrow streets and compact infrastructure.

The findings from Bader Law underscore a clear public safety issue that calls for urgent attention. Policymakers, automakers, and transportation agencies will need to address the unintended consequences of modern vehicle design and driving behavior. Reducing speed limits, redesigning front-end structures, and investing in pedestrian infrastructure could be pivotal in reversing this deadly trend.

Pedestrian deaths are not random accidents, they are predictable outcomes shaped by the choices made in vehicle manufacturing, road design, and traffic law enforcement. As the data shows, fewer fatalities are possible. But it will take collective action to ensure that fewer lives are lost.