Pedestrian Deaths Fell by Largest Percentage in 15 Years, but Remain Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

After a spike in deaths during the Covid-19 years, road deaths fell to 3,024 in the first half of 2025.

1 minute read

March 31, 2026, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Aerial of traffic crash at intersection with ambulance and first responders on scene.

States and cities are taking more measures to improve traffic safety. | Bilanol / Shutterstock

Pedestrian deaths in the United States fell by 11 percent in the first half of 2025, the largest drop since the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) started recording the statistic 15 years ago, according to reporting by Tim Henderson in Stateline.

However, deaths remain above 2019 levels, when road deaths began to spike. “Drivers struck and killed 3,024 people in the first half of 2025, the GHSA said in the report. That was 371 fewer deaths than in the same time period the year before.” 

Pedestrian deaths increased in 24 states and fell in 23, the report adds. Hawaii, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, and Arizona had the highest rate of deaths per capita. The lowest rates were found in Idaho, Rhode Island, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. New Mexico, which had the highest rate of deaths in 2023, saw a drop from 53 deaths in early 2024 to 27 in early 2025. “The state has been experimenting with new technology such as flashing lights that warn drivers when a pedestrian enters a crosswalk.”

Monday, March 30, 2026 in Stateline

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11, 2026 - The Arizona Republic

Skyscrapers in Jersey City.

New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers

Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.

September 4, 2026 - The Cool Down

A New Jersey train approaches people waiting at the station.

Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds

A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.

September 15 - Mass Transit

A tall, gray power plant billows smoke into a blue sky.

EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants

Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.

September 15 - New York Times

A white RAPID bus. The lower half is light blue, and says RAPID in purple text. The bus is half visible, appearing from the left side of the image.

Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses

Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.

September 15 - KJZZ

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.