Pickup trucks and SUVs causing trouble! Organization claims pedestrian deaths in the United States hit a 40-year high

Pedestrian deaths in the United States reach a 40-year high due to pickup trucks and SUVs

【PhoneAuto News】In recent years, with the continuous development of advanced driving assistance systems by automotive companies, vehicle safety has become a major selling point. According to data released earlier this year by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the United States, the number of traffic fatalities in 2022 has remained relatively stable, which seems to confirm that vehicle safety is increasing. However, the situation for pedestrians is not optimistic.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), a non-profit organization representing state safety offices, has found that 2022 had the highest number of pedestrian fatalities in the United States since statistics began in 1981. According to preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the organization predicts that a total of 7,508 people will have died in accidents while walking near U.S. highways in 2022. This not only represents the highest number in the past 41 years, but also shows a significant and sudden increase compared to a few years ago. The number in 2022 is nearly 19% higher than the 6,324 deaths in 2019.

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Changes in pedestrian fatalities in the United States

Similar to driver fatalities, the number of pedestrian deaths has also been increasing throughout the entire pandemic period. However, unlike drivers, the number of pedestrian deaths did not start to decline after the pandemic. Between 2010 and 2021, the number of pedestrian fatalities increased by 77%, while other road users increased by only 25%. New Mexico and Arizona are among the most dangerous states in 2022, with pedestrian fatality rates of 4.4 and 4.17 per 100,000 people, respectively. In contrast, despite cold weather and snow, Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota remain the safest, with safety scores of 0.56, 0.8, and 0.77, respectively.

Pedestrian Death Rate in the United States in 2022

The rising number of pedestrian deaths sets the United States apart from other developed countries, as other countries have made more efforts to reduce deaths among pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. According to experts, these measures include stricter speed limits, increased protected bike lanes, and optimizing vehicle designs to better protect people outside the vehicle in the event of an accident.

Pedestrian death rates are increasing at a much higher rate than other road users.

In addition, due to Americans’ preference for large pickup trucks and SUVs, these vehicles not only create larger blind spots for drivers but also cause more fatal injuries to pedestrians due to their larger and heavier bodies. According to GSHA data, 40% of the deaths are related to SUVs or pickup trucks, while other passenger cars account for only 35%.

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