Drinking Behind New Mexico's High Pedestrian Fatality Rate

New Mexico had the nation's highest pedestrian fatality rate in 2014. Alcohol was a factor in over half the pedestrian fatalities in New Mexico, while nationally it's a third. According to the Albuquerque PD, drunk pedestrians are primarily to blame.

2 minute read

June 5, 2016, 1:00 PM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Drunk People

The Merry Homecoming, by Jan Steen, 1670-79, Dutch painting, oil on canvas. | Everett - Art / Shutterstock

"New Mexico racked up 74 pedestrian fatalities in 2014, or a rate of 3.55 per 100,000 residents, according to a report issued in May by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)," writes Olivier Uyttebrouck for the Albuquerque Journal. "That was more than twice the U.S. rate of 1.53 per 100,000."

“Pedestrian impairment” is the key factor in fatal pedestrian crashes in Albuquerque, said Tanner Tixier, a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department. “The majority of our pedestrian fatalities are a result of intoxicated pedestrians walking outside of safety areas, and not the result of drivers being at fault,” he said.

"Outside of safety areas" is another way of saying the pedestrians were jaywalking.

Only 21 percent of pedestrians, or about one in five, were killed at intersections in 2014, it said. Most were killed crossing streets away from intersections, and a small number were killed on medians, sidewalks and roadsides.

Nexus with homelessness?

Many of Albuquerque’s homeless population “are perpetually intoxicated and aren’t looking out for cars in the middle of the night,” Tixier said. Too often, pedestrians meet their end crossing streets outside of crosswalks in dimly lit areas, he said

Whether jaywalking, intoxicated, or distracted by cell phones (which the article did not discuss), there are still ways to reduce pedestrian fatalities, e.g., street design improvement, adding lighting, and reducing speed limits, which the New Mexico Department of Transportation (DOT) is doing.

DOT incorporates safety features into its roadway designs, including sidewalks, lighting and pedestrian refuge islands, the statement said. The agency also sponsors an advertising and media campaign to encourage pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists to stay vigilant on the road.

Fatalities occurred mostly in urban and Native American areas

Two counties accounted for 59 percent of the states pedestrian fatalities: Bernalillo County, the most populous where Albuquerque, the state's largest city is located, and McKinley County, in the northwest, with 75.5% Native American population.

Of all traffic deaths in Bernalillo County that year, 40 percent were pedestrians. Statewide, pedestrians comprised 17 percent of all traffic deaths in 2013.

Of the 38 Bernalillo County pedestrians killed from 2008 to 2011, half were intoxicated, according to a 2014 study by the Mid-Region Council of Governments.

New Mexico was followed by Florida, Delaware, Nevada, and Louisiana in pedestrian fatality rates (see chart for 2014 rates).

2015 preliminary data: Pedestrian deaths up, motorists deaths down

See Planetizen post last March based on Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) report, "Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State." "2015 saw a 10 percent increase in pedestrians killed in motor vehicle crashes compared to a four percent decline in overall traffic deaths during the same period." Note different figures reported by the National Safety Council.

Friday, June 3, 2016 in Albuquerque Journal

portrait of professional woman

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 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 Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

April 30 - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

April 30 - Next City