Last year, 3,441 pedestrians were struck and killed during the first six months, a 17 percent increase from the first half of 2020, according to Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) projections.
This is the equivalent of 1.04 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people.
The nonprofit association’s annual report is based on preliminary data provided by all 50 State Highway Safety Offices and the District of Columbia.
Dr. Elizabeth Petraglia, from the research firm Westat, conducted the analysis. She discovered the rate of drivers striking and killing pedestrians rose to a record 2.3 deaths per billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT) during the first six months of the year.
The previous record, set in 2020, was 2.2 deaths per billion VMT.
Pedestrian deaths have spiked 46 percent since 2000. This has been attributed to inadequate infrastructure, such as a lack of sidewalks, roads designed to prioritize fast-moving traffic, and larger vehicles.
California, Florida, and Texas accounted for 37 percent of all pedestrian deaths despite being 27 percent of the U.S. population. GHSA believes this is due to a combination of warmer climates and a large number of urban areas where pedestrians and motor vehicles share the road.
Pedestrian fatalities increased in 39 states and Washington, D.C., and decreased in 11 states.