GHSA's 2023 Preliminary Report on Pedestrian Deaths by State
The GHSA’s annual Spotlight on Highway Safety report provides an early analysis of pedestrian traffic fatalities for 2023 based on preliminary data from State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs). The report projects that U.S. drivers struck and killed 7,318 pedestrians in 2023 which is down 5.4% from 2022 but over 14% higher than 2019 (the last pre-pandemic year).
The report shows that 29 states saw fewer pedestrian deaths in 2023 compared to 2022, while 21 states and Washington, D.C., experienced an increase.
In addition, the report delves into 2022 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which reveals concerning trends in pedestrian deaths — particularly those occurring at night, in areas lacking sidewalks, and involving larger vehicles like SUVs and pickups. Since 2010, pedestrian fatalities have surged by 77%, in contrast to a 22% rise in overall traffic deaths.
The study attributes this trend to several factors, including reduced traffic enforcement post-2020, dangerous driving behaviors like speeding and impaired driving, and infrastructure design that prioritizes vehicle traffic over pedestrian safety. Furthermore, the increasing presence of larger, heavier vehicles in the U.S. has heightened risks for pedestrians.
| State | 2022 | 2023 |
| Alabama | 2.19 | 2.31 |
| Alaska | 1.77 | 1.36 |
| Arizona | 4.24 | 2.96 |
| Arkansas | 2.53 | 2.22 |
| California | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| Colorado | 1.83 | 2.31 |
| Connecticut | 2.02 | 1.33 |
| Delaware | 3.24 | 2.71 |
| District of Columbia | 2.83 | 2.95 |
| Florida | 3.51 | 3.54 |
| Georgia | 3.07 | 2.91 |
| Hawaii | 1.95 | 1.53 |
| Idaho | 0.83 | 1.83 |
| Illinois | 1.57 | 1.63 |
| Indiana | 1.67 | 1.34 |
| Iowa | 0.56 | 0.94 |
| Kansas | 1.53 | 1.67 |
| Kentucky | 2.13 | 2.65 |
| Louisiana | 3.95 | 3.17 |
| Maine | 1.51 | 1.43 |
| Maryland | 2.22 | 2.61 |
| Massachusetts | 1.40 | 0.99 |
| Michigan | 1.72 | 1.80 |
| Minnesota | 0.79 | 0.77 |
| Mississippi | 2.72 | 2.96 |
| Missouri | 2.10 | 2.03 |
| Montana | 1.87 | 2.03 |
| Nebraska | 1.17 | 0.71 |
| Nevada | 2.80 | 3.41 |
| New Hampshire | 1.22 | 1.07 |
| New Jersey | 2.07 | 1.84 |
| New Mexico | 4.40 | 4.68 |
| New York | 1.67 | 1.45 |
| North Carolina | 2.48 | 2.29 |
| North Dakota | 0.77 | 1.28 |
| Ohio | 1.40 | 1.28 |
| Oklahoma | 2.39 | 1.78 |
| Oregon | 3.00 | 2.55 |
| Pennsylvania | 1.42 | 1.48 |
| Rhode Island | 0.64 | 1.00 |
| South Carolina | 3.27 | 3.39 |
| South Dakota | 1.43 | 1.63 |
| Tennessee | 2.98 | 2.62 |
| Texas | 2.72 | 2.64 |
| Utah | 1.60 | 1.17 |
| Vermont | 0.93 | 0.77 |
| Virginia | 1.97 | 1.53 |
| Washington | 1.68 | 1.87 |
| West Virginia | 1.24 | 1.13 |
| Wisconsin | 1.22 | 0.93 |
| Wyoming | 1.38 | 1.88 |
| National Rate | 2.32 | 2.19 |