2013 to 2022 saw rapid increase in US pedestrian, traffic death rates

From 2013 to 2022, the U.S. pedestrian and road traffic death rate increased rapidly compared with a decrease in other high-income countries, according to research published in the March 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Rebecca B. Naumann, Ph.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues examined changes in pedestrian and overall traffic death rates (deaths per 100,000 population) within an international context using 2013 to 2022 data from the United States and 27 other high-income countries, as well as early 2023 estimates from the United States.

The researchers found that overall U.S. pedestrian death rates increased 50% (from 1.55 to 2.33) compared with a median decrease of 24.7% in other countries. Furthermore, overall U.S. traffic death rates increased 22.5% during the study period (from 10.41 to 12.76) compared with a median decrease of 19.4% in the 27 other countries.

The United States had the highest pedestrian death rates overall and among persons aged 15 to 24 and 25 to 64 years among all countries examined. Compared with rates in 2022, projected 2023 estimates suggested a potential decline in pedestrian and overall traffic deaths (2 and 4%, respectively).

“Whereas 2023 U.S. projections indicate a potential reduction in pedestrian deaths, increased and more widespread application of the Safe System approach could help accelerate and sustain progress,” the authors write.

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