H&P Law study finds more than a fivefold difference in pedestrian fatality rates between the safest and most dangerous states during the summer months

As millions of Americans head outdoors this summer, a new nationwide study suggests where you walk may be just as important as how often you walk.

A comprehensive analysis conducted by H&P Law ranked the most dangerous states for pedestrians during the summer using ten years of federal fatal crash data. The study found that New Mexico recorded the nation’s highest summer pedestrian fatality rate at 9.44 deaths per 100,000 residents, while Minnesota reported the lowest rate at just 1.73, creating a more than fivefold difference in pedestrian risk depending on location.

The findings come despite encouraging national trends showing pedestrian fatalities have begun declining after years of steady increases. However, the research shows that while overall numbers are improving, pedestrian deaths remain heavily concentrated in specific states, cities, counties and roadways throughout the country.

Key Findings

• New Mexico ranked as the most dangerous state for pedestrians during summer with 9.44 fatalities per 100,000 residents.
• Minnesota recorded the nation’s lowest fatality rate at 1.73 per 100,000 residents.
• The difference between the highest and lowest ranked states exceeded 445%.
• 3,024 pedestrians were killed nationwide during the first half of 2025, a 10.9% decrease from the same period in 2024.
• 7,148 pedestrians were killed across the United States in 2024, representing a 4.3% decline from the previous year.
• Pedestrian fatalities remain approximately 20% higher than 2016 levels, despite recent improvements.
• One in four pedestrian deaths now involves a hit-and-run driver.
• Between 2015 and 2024, 3,407 pedestrians were killed in summer hit-and-run crashes.
• Summer crashes involving impaired pedestrians claimed 1,531 lives during the same ten-year period.
• Federal estimates place the average societal cost of a single pedestrian fatality at approximately $13.2 million.

States Recording the Highest Summer Pedestrian Fatality Rates

The H&P Law analysis examined fatal pedestrian crashes occurring during the summer months between 2015 and 2024, adjusting totals for population to identify where pedestrians face the greatest overall risk.

The results show a clear concentration across the Southwest and Southeast.

Although larger states naturally record more pedestrian deaths overall, adjusting for population revealed that several smaller states experience substantially greater pedestrian risk than many of the country’s largest populations.

For example, Delaware ranked eighth nationally despite having fewer than one million residents, while New Mexico recorded the highest fatality rate despite ranking well outside the nation’s most populous states.

Conversely, several northern Midwestern and Northeastern states consistently reported the safest conditions for pedestrians.

The study found the gap between New Mexico (9.44) and Minnesota (1.73) represents a difference of more than 445%, highlighting how dramatically pedestrian safety varies across the United States.

National Pedestrian Deaths Are Declining, But the Crisis Is Far From Over

One of the study’s biggest findings is that pedestrian fatalities are finally moving in the right direction nationally.

According to preliminary federal traffic safety data reviewed by H&P Law:

The 10.9% decline recorded during the first six months of 2025 represents the largest annual reduction since the Governors Highway Safety Association began tracking pedestrian fatalities.

However, those improvements are not occurring evenly across the country.

During the first half of 2025:

• 24 states recorded increases in pedestrian fatalities.
• 23 states and Washington, D.C. recorded declines.
• Three states reported no change.

Large decreases in California, Maryland, New Mexico, New York and Alabama helped drive the national decline, while several other states continued trending upward.

The findings suggest that although overall pedestrian deaths are beginning to fall, local roadway design, driver behavior and infrastructure continue to produce dramatically different outcomes from one state to another.

The Financial Cost of Pedestrian Fatalities Continues to Climb

Beyond the human toll, pedestrian crashes also carry an enormous economic burden.

The H&P Law study estimates that pedestrian fatalities occurring during the first half of 2025 generated more than $40 billion in economic and societal costs.

Federal cost models estimate that each fatal pedestrian crash costs society approximately $13.2 million, accounting for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost lifetime earnings
• Emergency response costs
• Insurance payouts
• Legal expenses
• Public service costs
• Quality-of-life losses experienced by victims and families

Even as fatality totals begin to decline, the financial burden associated with pedestrian crashes remains historically high because of the significant long-term consequences associated with each fatal collision.

Summer’s “100 Deadliest Days” Continue to Create Elevated Risk

The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day has long been referred to as the 100 Deadliest Days, reflecting the seasonal increase in fatal traffic crashes across the United States.

According to the research, several factors combine during the summer months to increase pedestrian exposure.

Traffic volumes rise as families travel for vacations.

Tourism increases in many metropolitan areas.

More children and teenagers spend time outdoors, walking to parks, restaurants and entertainment districts.

At the same time, teen drivers spend significantly more time behind the wheel.

Data cited in the study shows teen drivers are approximately three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash during the summer months than during the rest of the year.

That combination creates more opportunities for vehicle-pedestrian conflicts across residential neighborhoods, commercial districts and busy arterial roadways.

Speed, Impairment and Hit-and-Run Crashes Continue to Drive Fatal Outcomes

While pedestrian crashes rarely result from a single factor, the H&P Law analysis identified several recurring trends that consistently contribute to fatal collisions across the country.

One of the strongest predictors of whether a pedestrian survives a collision is vehicle speed.

Research cited in the study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety demonstrates how quickly the probability of death increases as impact speeds rise.

The findings illustrate why roadway design plays such an important role in pedestrian safety. Many fatal crashes occur along multi-lane arterial roads where posted speed limits exceed what safety experts consider survivable for pedestrians.

During the summer, increased tourism, recreational travel and heavier traffic volumes place even more vehicles on these high-speed corridors.

Alcohol Continues to Be a Major Contributor

The study also found alcohol remains involved in a significant share of fatal pedestrian crashes nationwide.

Federal crash data reviewed by H&P Law found:

California recorded the highest number of summer pedestrian fatalities involving impaired pedestrians during the study period, followed by Texas, North Carolina, Arizona, South Carolina and Colorado.

The findings suggest summer events such as festivals, sporting events, nightlife and holiday celebrations create additional opportunities for impaired pedestrians and impaired drivers to occupy the same roadways.

One in Four Fatal Pedestrian Crashes Now Involves a Hit-and-Run Driver

Another troubling trend highlighted by the research is the continued growth of hit-and-run crashes.

According to the study:

California accounted for the highest number of summer hit-and-run pedestrian fatalities with 566 deaths, followed by:

• Texas: 421
• Florida: 261
• Arizona
• Illinois
• New York
• North Carolina
• Michigan
• Georgia
• Tennessee

The data suggests that despite improvements in overall pedestrian fatalities, drivers fleeing crash scenes remains a persistent national safety issue.

Most Fatal Pedestrian Crashes Continue to Happen After Dark

Visibility continues to play a major role in pedestrian safety.

The study notes that approximately three out of every four pedestrian fatalities occur between dusk and dawn, when drivers have reduced visibility and pedestrians are more difficult to detect.

Lower lighting conditions become especially problematic along:

• Wide arterial roads
• Entertainment districts
• Commercial corridors
• High-speed suburban roadways
• Areas lacking sidewalks or marked crossings

These environments become increasingly busy during the summer as longer evenings encourage more outdoor activity.

The Most Dangerous Cities for Pedestrians

Statewide rankings tell only part of the story.

H&P Law also analyzed cities with populations exceeding 350,000 residents to identify where pedestrians face the greatest fatality rates.

Memphis recorded 430 pedestrian fatalities during the study period, giving it the highest fatality rate among major U.S. cities.

The rankings also reveal a geographic pattern, with many of the country’s most dangerous cities located throughout the South and Southwest, regions that also dominated the statewide rankings.

Certain Roads Account for a Disproportionate Share of Fatalities

The study found pedestrian deaths are concentrated along relatively few roadways nationwide.

Among the roads recording the greatest number of pedestrian fatalities between 2015 and 2024 were:

• Interstate 35 (Travis County, Texas) – 80 fatalities
• US-19 (Pinellas County, Florida) – 79 fatalities
• Interstate 5 (San Diego County, California) – 78 fatalities

Many of the highest-ranking roadways share similar characteristics, including heavy traffic volumes, multiple travel lanes, higher speed limits and dense surrounding development.

These corridors create frequent interactions between vehicles traveling at higher speeds and pedestrians attempting to cross busy roadways.

Population Size Does Not Determine Pedestrian Risk

One of the most important findings from the H&P Law research is that population alone does not explain pedestrian fatalities.

Several relatively small states ranked among the most dangerous in the country after adjusting fatalities for population, while several larger states ranked substantially lower.

That distinction is important because raw fatality totals often favor larger states simply due to their size.

Using population-adjusted fatality rates provides a clearer picture of where pedestrians face the greatest likelihood of being involved in a fatal crash.

Bottom Line

Pedestrian fatalities are finally beginning to decline nationally after years of steady increases, but the latest research from H&P Law demonstrates that significant regional differences remain.

While the first half of 2025 produced the largest year-over-year decline in pedestrian fatalities on record, thousands of people continue to lose their lives while walking each year. The study shows that these deaths are not evenly distributed. Instead, they remain concentrated in specific states, metropolitan areas and transportation corridors where roadway design, traffic volumes, speed and impaired driving combine to create substantially greater risk.

With millions of Americans expected to spend more time outdoors throughout the summer, the findings highlight how location continues to influence pedestrian safety across the United States, even as national fatality numbers begin moving in a more encouraging direction.