Spatial and Temporal Shifts in Pedestrian Serious Injuries and Fatalities

Pedestrian fatalities in the US increased over 83% between 2009 and 2022, substantially more than the 16% increase for vehicle occupant fatalities over the same period. Past research has identified important relationships between these recent pedestrian safety outcomes and street design (e.g., arterials and midblock crossings) and motor vehicle design (e.g., the higher prevalence and larger dimensions of light trucks). But how have pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries shifted in the larger geospatial context? This webinar explores how pedestrian safety issues have shifted on the urban/suburban/rural continuum, identifying a shift in pedestrian crashes toward the suburbs. Neighborhood-scale analyses also identify pedestrian fatality and serious injury concentrations around retail and other small-scale commercial establishments and public transit. This work harmonizes planning and engineering research into a more complete story of the recent pedestrian safety crisis.