U.S. Leads High-Income Countries in Traffic Deaths

The United States leads 27 other high-income countries in its number of pedestrian deaths and overall road traffic deaths, according to a report recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report regards preventable traffic deaths in the U.S. as a “major public health problem.”

Between 2013 and 2022, U.S. pedestrian death rates increased 50 percent (from 1.55 to 2.33 per 100,000 population), while other countries generally experienced decreases (with a mean decrease of 24.7 percent), according to the report. In 2022, the U.S. saw 7,768 pedestrian traffic deaths. Japan had the second highest number of pedestrian deaths at 1,157 (0.93 per 100,000), and South Korea ranked third with 933 pedestrian deaths (1.81 per 100,000).

During 2018-2022, across most countries examined, the highest pedestrian death rates were observed in adults aged 65 and older. Compared with other countries, the U.S. had the highest pedestrian death rates among persons aged 15-24 and 25-64 years, and the second highest rate among children aged 0-14 years.

Between 2013 and 2022, overall U.S. traffic death rates increased 22.5 percent (from 10.41 to 12.76 per 100,000 population), but decreased by a median of 9.4 percent in the 27 other high-income countries. In 2022, the U.S. saw 42,514 overall road traffic deaths, according to the report. France had the second highest number of overall traffic deaths at 3,267 (4.98 per 100,000), and Japan ranked third at 3,216 overall traffic deaths (2.57 per 100,000).

In 2022, Norway had the fewest pedestrian deaths at nine (0.17 per 100,000 population), and Slovenia had the fewest overall traffic deaths at 85 (4.03 per 100,000).

The 27 other countries studied were: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Why Are U.S. Traffic Deaths Increasing?

The report cites multiple potential contributors to rising U.S. traffic deaths. First, vehicles on U.S. roadways have become taller and heavier over the years. SUVs, vans and pickup trucks accounted for 79 percent of new U.S. leases and vehicle sales in 2022, while the proportion of smaller passenger cars declined from 50 percent of new vehicles in 2012 to 21 percent in 2022.

Supersized vehicles have design elements — such as high ride heights and long front ends — that can impede drivers’ ability to see pedestrians, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. They hit pedestrians with a heavier force and higher on the body, compared with smaller vehicles. Pedestrians are 50 percent to 100 percent more likely to be killed when they are in a crash involving an SUV or pickup truck, as compared with a smaller vehicle, according to the report.

Road design is another potential contributor. According to the report, complex, multi-lane arterial roadways are associated with increased U.S. pedestrian deaths. The report describes these roadways as trying to serve the conflicting goals of providing immediate access to commercial destinations like stores and restaurants, while also seeking to move vehicles at high travel speeds. An example of such a roadway is Philadelphia’s Roosevelt Boulevard — a 12-lane thoroughfare, with chaotic traffic patterns and dangerous pedestrian crosswalks. Roosevelt Boulevard is considered one of the most dangerous roadways in the United States.

The report notes that several other countries use different roadway design strategies which prioritize land use and safe movement by sustainable traffic modes, such as walking, cycling and mass transit.

Finally, the report cites socio-economic factors. An increase in the number of persons living below the poverty line, particularly in U.S. suburban communities with fewer transportation options and less access to safe pedestrian infrastructure, also could contribute to the higher U.S. pedestrian death rate. The report observes that certain age groups are disproportionately affected by pedestrian deaths, including older adults, who generally experience the highest rates. Several factors, including walking speed, vision impairment and distance judgment, might increase the risk for this population. Design solutions, such as lengthening pedestrian intervals, narrowing crossing distance and adequate lighting, could mitigate the risk and help keep pedestrians of all ages safe.

What Can Be Done to Reduce Traffic Deaths in the U.S.?

The report touts the Safe System Approach as a framework for “building in layers of evidenced-based prevention strategies to ensure that no crash results in death or serious injury.” The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) adopted the Safe System Approach in its 2022 National Roadway Safety Strategy. Several other countries have reduced their road traffic death rates over recent decades with the adoption of the Safe System Approach.

The DOT describes the Safe System Approach as a shift from a conventional safety approach because it focuses on both human mistakes and human vulnerability and designs a system with many redundancies in place to protect everyone. The principles of the Safe System Approach set forth by the DOT are:

• Death and Serious Injuries Are Unacceptable. The approach prioritizes the elimination of these types of crashes.
• Humans Make Mistakes. People will inevitably make mistakes, but the transportation system can be designed and operated to accommodate certain types and levels of human mistakes and to avoid death and serious injuries when a crash occurs.
• Humans Are Vulnerable. Human bodies have physical limits for tolerating crash forces before death or serious injury occurs; therefore, it is critical to design and operate a transportation system that is human-centric and accommodates physical human vulnerabilities.
• Responsibility Is Shared. Stakeholders including government at all levels, industry, non-profit/advocacy, researchers and the general public are vital to preventing fatalities and serious injuries on U.S. roadways.
• Safety Is Proactive. Proactive tools should be used to identify and address safety issues in the transportation system, rather than waiting for crashes to occur and reacting afterward.
• Redundancy Is Crucial. Reducing risks requires that all parts of the transportation system be strengthened, so that if one part fails, the other parts still protect people.

The objectives of the Safe System Approach set forth by the DOT are:

• Safer People. Encourage safe, responsible driving and behavior by people who use our roads and create conditions that prioritize their ability to reach their destination unharmed.
• Safer Roads. Design roadway environments to mitigate human mistakes and account for injury tolerances, to encourage safer behaviors, and to facilitate safe travel by the most vulnerable users.
• Safer Vehicles. Expand the availability of vehicle systems and features that help to prevent crashes and minimize the impact of crashes on both occupants and non-occupants.
• Safer Speeds. Promote safer speeds in all roadway environments through a combination of thoughtful, equitable, context-appropriate roadway design, appropriate speed-limit setting, targeted education, outreach campaigns, and enforcement.
• Post-Crash Care. Enhance the survivability of crashes through expedient access to emergency medical care, while creating a safe working environment for vital first responders and preventing secondary crashes through robust traffic incident management practices.

Who May Be Held Legally Liable for a Motor Vehicle Accident?

Parties who could bear potential legal liability in pedestrian and motor vehicle crashes include:

• The driver/owner of the striking vehicle.
• If the driver was drinking, the establishment that served the driver alcohol.
• In cases where a roadway defect caused or contributed to the accident, those responsible for the design, construction, maintenance or repairs of the roadway or adjacent structures.
• Any company involved in the design and manufacture of a vehicle with a design defect that caused or contributed to the accident.

What Should I Do If I or a Loved One Has Been Injured in a Motor Vehicle Accident, Including a Pedestrian Accident?

Feldman Shepherd motor vehicle accident, truck accident, and roadway traffic safety attorneys John M. Dodig and Jason A. Daria recommend contacting an attorney as soon as possible in cases where a motor vehicle or pedestrian accident results in serious injury or death so that a full investigation can be promptly commenced.

“Motor vehicle accident cases often hinge on the opportunity to gather and assess evidence at the accident site, to preserve any involved vehicle as evidence, and to talk to witnesses before memories fade. There is a limited window of time to conduct a thorough and effective investigation. I cannot overstate the importance of contacting an attorney as soon as possible,” Dodig said.

“The U.S. crash death statistics in the CDC report are extremely alarming. Pedestrians and motorists have an absolute right to expect that roadways and vehicles will be designed with their safety in mind. We are committed to thoroughly and diligently pursuing every available legal remedy for those who are injured,” Daria said.