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At some point in the day, everyone is a pedestrian. Unfortunately, pedestrian injuries and fatalities remain high. In 2020, 6,516 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 55,000 pedestrians were injured nationwide. NHTSA raises awareness of the dangers to pedestrians and provides tips to keep pedestrians safe.
Pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2020
Pedestrian Safety The Topic NHTSA In Action Resources
81 A pedestrian was killed every 81 minutes in traffic crashes in 2020 Everyone has different preferences when it comes to transportation, but at one time or another everyone is a pedestrian. When drivers maintain safe speeds and practice other safe driving behaviors, safer walking environments are created for you, your loved ones and others in your community.
TRAFFIC SAFETY FACTS & DATA PUBLICATIONS
- Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times.
- Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather.
- Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
- Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.
- Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where you can’t see.
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
- Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present.
- Be extra cautious when backing up and look for pedestrians.
Related Topic
- Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
- Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available.
- If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
- Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.
- If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross.
- Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.
- Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and your judgment.
- Embrace walking as a healthy form of transportation - get up, get out and get moving.
Pedestrian Bystander Care
If you're an advocate of pedestrian safety, or perhaps you work on a State or local pedestrian program, our curriculum and resources will equip you with the tools and information you need to effectively promote pedestrian safety.
- Pedestrian Resource Guide
Developed for National Pedestrian Safety Month, this guide discusses how a safe transportation system prioritizes people. - Accessible Pathways & Livable Communities Pocket Guide
Pocket guide containing pathway accessibility and livability concepts for communities to consider (from Easter Seals). - Checklist for Assessing the Accessibility of Transportation and Mobility
Introduction and instructions on using a checklist to assess the accessibility of a transit route, including the path of travel (from Easter Seals). - Child Pedestrian Safety Curriculum
Lesson plans, assessment guides and student response forms to teach and encourage pedestrian safety to children in kindergarten through 5th grade. - ESL Teacher's Guide and Student Workbook: Walk and Bike Safely
ESL guide and workbook to teach and encourage pedestrian and bike safety to adult immigrant students who are beginning English language learners. - Neighborhood Wayfinding Assessment Pocket Guide
Guide and checklist to help you find your way in your community (from Easter Seals). - Pedestrian Safer Journey – Skills for Safe Walking for Ages 5 to 18
Interactive training package for children in elementary through high school to develop skills for safe walking. - Pedestrian Safety Workshop: A Focus on Older Adults (PDF, 3.54 MB) and Instructor Guide (PDF, 3.54 MB)
Presentation and guide for teaching older adults what they can do to increase their safety as pedestrians during this three-hour workshop. - Tips for Preteens & Teens: Prevent Pedestrian Crashes (PDF, 3.30 MB)
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
Yearly statistics on pedestrian traffic fatalities. - Traffic Safety Facts – Children
Yearly statistics on traffic fatalities involving children. - Walkability Checklist – English (PDF, 237.66 KB) | Spanish (PDF, 879.65 KB) | Asian Languages
Criteria to help you decide whether a neighborhood is a friendly place to walk.
Visit FHWA's pedestrian web pages for additional information.
NHTSA's pedestrian safety programs focus on the safe system approach, which has five main components: NHTSA demonstrates its dedication to promoting safe pedestrian and motorist behavior through our educational material, leadership and expertise to communities across America. We also conduct public awareness campaigns, such as Everyone is a Pedestrian, raising awareness of the dangers to pedestrians. Please join us in reducing traffic safety risks to pedestrians and promoting programs and countermeasures to save the lives of all road users on our nation's roadways.