Roughly 18% of all fatal crashes in the U.S. involve pedestrians. Over the past decade, pedestrian deaths in traffic crashes have climbed sharply. Between 2014 and 2023, pedestrian-related fatal crashes rose by 59%, resulting in more than 60,000 pedestrian fatalities in motor vehicle collisions.
At Woodard Injury Law Firm, we believe that all traffic deaths are preventable tragedies. Therefore, continued efforts are necessary to improve traffic safety for all road users. To help address this, we partnered with 1Point21 Interactive to examine which U.S. cities have the highest rates of pedestrian fatal crashes.
Research shows that pedestrian fatalities are more common in urban areas due to higher pedestrian activity and traffic density. In 2023 alone, more than 80% of pedestrian fatalities occurred in such areas.
To analyze this pattern, we calculated pedestrian-related fatal crash rates for all U.S. cities with at least 125,000 residents and determined where these collisions are most prevalent relative to population size. Among these cities, we also present the safest cities where rates are at their lowest.
Read on to see what we found.
Key Takeaways:
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida had the highest pedestrian-related fatal crash rate in the U.S. at 7.16 crashes per 100,000 residents annually.
- Among the top 25 cities with the highest rates, 23 of them are located in the Sun Belt.
- Frisco, Texas had the lowest pedestrian-related fatal crash rate in the U.S. at 0.17 crashes per 100,000 residents annually.
Where Pedestrian Fatal Crash Rates Are Highest
The cities reported below represent the deadliest cities in the United States for pedestrians in motor vehicle collisions. The analysis includes two key variables for each city that may be referenced in the table or accompanying point map: the annual fatal crash rate per 100,000 residents and the total number of pedestrian-related fatal crashes.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, exhibited the highest annual pedestrian-related fatal crash rate with 7.61 annual crashes per 100,000 residents. The South Florida city has a climate conducive to year-round pedestrian activity. Additionally, the city is both urban, with many residents and commuters traveling into Fort Lauderdale for work, and a major tourist destination, resulting in residents, workers, and vacationers all sharing these busy roads. This, in turn, increases the risk for vulnerable road users. Four more Florida cities made the top ranking for the highest pedestrian-related fatal crash rates: West Palm Beach (ranked 9th), Miami (ranked 16th), Tampa (ranked 17th), and Orlando (ranked 25th).
Jackson, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee, followed in second and third place, with annual rates of 7.11 and 6.96 pedestrian-related fatal crashes per 100,000 residents, respectively.
Many other cities in this ranking have warm climates that allow year-round pedestrian activity. In fact, of the 25 cities in the top ranking, 23 are located in the Sun Belt, including Georgia, Texas, Arizona, and Southern California.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Shows the Highest Pedestrian Fatal Crash Rate
The map below plots every pedestrian-related fatal crash that occurred in Fort Lauderdale between 2013 and 2024. Details such as the year, time of crash, and number of fatalities are visible when hovering over each point. In every crash, at least one pedestrian was fatally injured, but the total fatalities may also include motor vehicle occupants.
Where Pedestrian Fatal Crash Rates Are Lowest
Here, we present the cities with the safest roads for pedestrians. These cities showed the lowest annual pedestrian-related fatal crash rates in the U.S. among cities with at least 125,000 residents. We’ve also included the ten-year total of these incidents for your reference.
Frisco, Texas, recorded the lowest pedestrian-related fatal crash rate in the U.S., at 0.17 crashes per 100,000 residents annually. Several Texas suburbs, including Plano and McKinney, also rank among the cities with the lowest rates, contrasting with nearby metro Dallas, which ranks among the highest. This disparity may reflect differences in pedestrian activity levels, as well as urban factors such as higher traffic volumes, multi-lane high-speed roads, and infrastructure challenges found in metro areas. In contrast, these suburbs often feature newer developments, road designs, and lower population density, which lowers the risk for pedestrians.
California had the most cities represented among the top 25 with the lowest pedestrian-related fatal crash rates, featuring six cities: Irvine, Roseville, Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Elk Grove, and Clovis.
The full list of our analysis is available below.
Methodology
We analyzed ten years of fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), focusing on crashes with at least one pedestrian fatality. To calculate pedestrian-related fatal crash rates, we used 2023 population estimates from the U.S. Census. Based on this data, we ranked all cities with populations of at least 125,000.
Fair Use Statement
If you know someone who may find our findings useful, you are welcome to share them. We just ask that any publication of our findings include a link to the study so readers may access the complete results and methodology.