Pedestrian fatalities dipped statewide in 2020

Drunk driving and speeding are common reasons for pedestrian deaths in cities such as Chicago, Illinois. Most cities in the United States saw a rise in pedestrian fatalities during 2020 due to bad driver behavior. That year had the largest-ever nationwide pedestrian death increase.

Pedestrian fatalities statewide

Data from the Governors Highway Safety Association breaks down the pedestrian fatalities by state. The state highway offices show that there were fewer people on foot killed by motor vehicle accidents in 2020 in Illinois. There were 155 pedestrian deaths in Illinois in 2020 and 171 pedestrian deaths in 2019. However, in most of the countries, that rate went up from 2019 to 2020.

National numbers

The Governors Highway Safety Association finds that there were 6,721 pedestrian deaths by cars in 2020. In 2019, there were 6,412 pedestrian deaths, which is a 4.8% increase, even though the study found a 13% decrease in miles cars traveled in 2020. In 2019, there were 1.9 pedestrian deaths per billion vehicle miles traveled. In 2020, there were 2.3 pedestrian deaths per billion vehicle miles traveled, which is a 21% increase.

Preventing pedestrian fatalities

With less driving and more pedestrian deaths, bad driving behaviors are posing a greater risk. During the first six months of 2020, Illinois had a 7% pedestrian death spike. The last six months of 2020 saw fewer pedestrian deaths from motor vehicle accidents. Even with the lower pedestrian deaths, Illinois was 12th in pedestrian deaths nationally.

Unfortunately, 2020 wasn’t the first year to have higher national pedestrian deaths than the previous year. Pedestrian deaths from motor vehicle accidents rose 46% from 2010 to 2019. These statistics underline the necessity of safer driving behavior to prevent fatalities and injuries.