PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MONTH
October 2024

About 

At some point during the day, nearly everyone becomes a pedestrian, which is why pedestrian safety an essential component of any highway safety communications plan. Below, you'll find key messages aimed at helping both drivers and pedestrians stay safe.

A reminder—October is Pedestrian Safety Month, offering a prime opportunity to increase safety messaging across all platforms. 
 

Dates to Remember 

• October 1, 2024 - October 31, 2024: National Pedestrian Safety Month

Facts

• In 2022, there were 7,522 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in the United States. That is 21 pedestrians a day and 145 pedestrians a week. This represents a 0.7% increase from the 7,470 pedestrian fatalities in 2021.
• On average, a pedestrian was killed every 70 minutes and injured every 8 minutes in traffic crashes in 2022.
• Pedestrian deaths accounted for 18% of all traffic fatalities in 2022 and 3% of all people injured in traffic crashes in 2022.
• In 2022, there were an estimated 67,336 pedestrians injured, an 11% increase from the 60,579 pedestrians injured in 2021. 
• In 2022, the number of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes was the highest since 1981.
• Sixteen percent of the pedestrian fatalities occurred at intersections, 75% occurred at locations that were not intersections, and the remaining 9% occurred at other locations in 2022.
• More pedestrian fatalities occurred in the dark (78%) than in daylight (19%), dusk (2%), and dawn (2%) in 2022.
• Alcohol use is a significant factor in fatal crashes. In 2022, 48% of all crashes resulting in pedestrian fatalities involved either a driver and/or pedestrian with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher.
• Seventeen percent of the children 14 and younger killed in traffic crashes in 2022 were pedestrians.
• Research shows that the average risk of death for a pedestrian reaches 10% at an impact speed of 23 mph, 25% at 32 mph, 50% at 42 mph, 75% at 50 mph and 90% at 58 mph. 
• Seventy percent of the pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2022 were males.
• More pedestrian fatalities occurred in urban areas (85%) than rural areas (15%) in 2022.
• Nearly 1 out of every 4 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2022 (24%) were struck by hit-and-run drivers.

Social Media Material

Sample social media posts and graphics are available below for use on your various platforms, including Facebook, X, and Instagram. This content is designed for easy posting and seamless integration into your current social media strategy. Click on any of the images below for a full-size version, then right-click to download.