The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has released their latest annual spotlight report, "Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: January - June 2024 Preliminary Data" that provides an indepth overview of state and national trends in pedestrian traffic fatalities for the first half of 2024. Based on preliminary data provided by State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs), the GHSA found that 3,304 people walking were killed by drivers in the United States in the first half of 2024. While this is a decrease of 2.6% from the year before, it is an alarming 48% above a decade ago.
“Every day, 18 people don’t return home after taking a walk. That’s unacceptable,” said GHSA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins. “While recent incremental progress is welcome, it doesn’t disguise the fact that the numbers moved in the wrong direction over the past decade. The only acceptable number of traffic deaths is zero. We must continue to push for an all-in safety approach that protects people on foot from the dangerous behaviors that are all too common on our roads. By encouraging drivers and pedestrians to implement safe practices, supporting the enforcement of traffic laws and implementing infrastructure improvements, we can turn the tide on pedestrian fatalities.”
Report Highlights
The report provides an analysis of the early estimates of 2024 data by state, highlights key changes over time, and provides a brief overview of potential solutions.
Key findings included:
- Drivers struck and killed 3,304 pedestrians in the first half of 2024 – an average of 18 deaths every day.
- Between the first half of 2014 and 2024, pedestrian deaths have risen at a rate almost seven times faster than population growth.
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In 2024, seven states reported a second consecutive annual decline in pedestrian fatalities (January-June), while four states reported an increase for the second year in a row.
The GHSA will be publishing an additional Spotlight report later this year which will include state fatality projections for all of 2024, and proven strategies that states and communities can use to reduce pedestrian fatalities and injuries. Download the full report and visit the report webpage for additional resources and report infographics.