In defining individuals that are on foot and involved in accidents with autos or other motorized vehicles, the National Safety Council defines a pedestrian as "any person involved in a motor-vehicle accident who is not in or upon a motor vehicle or non motor vehicle."
The following pedestrian accident statistics are taken from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety,
- A total of 4,654 pedestrian deaths occurred in 2007, down 38% from 1975. Since 1975 pedestrian deaths have declined from 17% of all motor vehicle crash deaths to 11% in 2007
- 20% of pedestrian deaths in 2007 occurred in hit-and-run crashes
- 72% of pedestrian deaths in 2007 occurred in urban areas, up from 59% in 1975
- In urban areas, 55% of pedestrian deaths in 2007 occurred on roads with speed limits of 40 mph or less; in rural areas 20% of deaths occurred on such roads
- 71% of pedestrian deaths in 2007 occurred on major roads, including interstates and freeways
- 39% of pedestrian deaths among people 60 and older in 2007 occurred at intersections, compared with 20% for those younger than 60
- 44% of pedestrian deaths in 2007 occurred in crashes between 6 pm and midnight
- The largest proportion of pedestrian deaths in 2007 occurred on Saturday (17%), followed by Friday (16%) and Sunday (15%).
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also states that "many pedestrians are killed on crosswalks, sidewalks, median strips, and traffic islands. Physical separations such as overpasses, underpasses, and barriers can reduce the problem. Increased illumination and improved signal timing at intersections also can be effective. Because traffic speeds affect the risk and severity of pedestrian crashes, reducing speeds can reduce pedestrian deaths."
"Vehicle factors count, too, because the most serious injuries often result from pedestrians being thrown onto the hoods, windshields, or tops of vehicles. Serious head, pelvis, and leg injuries are common, and the severity of such injuries could be mitigated by improving vehicle designs and materials."
The National Safety Council (NSC) reported 6,074 pedestrian deaths involving a motor vehicle in 2005. The NSC went on to predict that the odds of one dying as a pedestrian in a motor vehicle accident in a given year were 1 in 48,816. Over one's lifetime, the odds are much higher for one being killed as a pedestrian, at 1 in 627.
