Pedestrians
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to transportation, but there’s one that all road users share — everyone is a pedestrian. Unfortunately, pedestrians were one of the few groups of road users to experience an increase in fatalities in the United States in 2013, totaling 4,735 deaths. We are working hard to raise awareness of the dangers to pedestrians, and to provide leadership, expertise, and resources to communities across America to combat these crashes. We urge parents, caregivers, educators, traffic safety officials, and advocates to make the most of our pedestrian safety resources to improve the quality of life in their communities.
- "EVERYONE IS A PEDESTRIAN" online resource
- "SAFETY IN NUMBERS" newsletter on pedestrian safety
- DOT unveils new tools to help communities keep pedestrians safe
Latest Reports
- Advancing Pedestrian Safety Using Education and Enforcement In Pedestrian Focus Cities and States: North Carolina (DOT HS 812 286)
NC DOT developed and ran a demonstration project to implement a pedestrian safety education and enforcement program as part of a comprehensive pedestrian safety action plan based on an analysis of pedestrian involved motor vehicle crash data. NC was selected in part because it is a designated Pedestrian Safety Focus State. Subsequent to the completion of the NHTSA project, NC DOT has continued and expanded the pedestrian safety education and enforcement campaign. - Advancing Pedestrian Safety Using Education and Enforcement In Pedestrian Focus Cities and States: Chicago (DOT HS 812 082)
This document summarizes Chicago DOT efforts, funded by NHTSA, to improve pedestrian enforcement and education. The goal of the project was to reduce pedestrian crashes. Project specific objectives were to increase public attention towards pedestrian safety, further develop the Chicago Police Department (CPD) ongoing pedestrian safety enforcement program, and increase pedestrian safety awareness within the CPD.
Did you know?
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U.S. DOT Safer People, Safer Street Initiative
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has declared pedestrian and bicyclist safety as a top priority for the department. Under his leadership and the Safer People, Safer Streets initiative, road safety assessments were conducted in every State and more than 230 cities have joined the Mayors' Challenge to improve walking and biking. -
Focused Approach to Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
This FHWA strategic approach provides technical assistance to states and cities with the most critical pedestrian and bicycle safety issues and helps them address these issues at their city level. Focus cities has been calculated based on the 20 cities with the largest number of pedestrian/bicyclist fatalities and any city having a population higher than the average of the top 50 cities. NHTSA follows FHWA lead in this focused approach to pedestrian and bicycle safety. -
Tips for Preteens & Teens: Prevent Pedestrian Crashes
Walking around traffic requires the same critical thinking skills as riding your bike and driving a car. Apply the same walking skills you learned as a kid: stop, look left-right-left for traffic and be safe, be seen. Use these skills when you walk, and encourage others to do the same. -
Traffic Safety Facts - Pedestrians
4,280 pedestrians died in traffic crashes in 2010, a 4% increase from the number reported in 2009. -
Traffic Safety Facts - Children
In 2011, an estimated 69,000 pedestrians were injured, 11,000 of those injured were age 14 and younger, and males accounted for 65% (7,000) of those 11,000 injured. -
Traffic Safety Facts - Older Population
In 2009, 16 percent of all traffic fatalities in the United States were among people age 65 and older. -
Highway Safety Program Guideline No. 14
Each State should develop and implement a comprehensive pedestrian safety program that promotes safe pedestrian practices, and educates drivers to share the road safely with other road users.