Most of us have crossed the street outside a crosswalk at some point, thinking nothing of it. Many underestimate the dangers of jaywalking, but the data doesn’t exaggerate. In 2024, there were 1,484 jaywalking–related pedestrian deaths in the United States, out of 7,080 total.
As summer approaches and more people venture outside into high-traffic areas, Anidjar and Levine have composed a study that looks at how dangerous jaywalking is for pedestrians. This report explores the serious consequences associated with jaywalking, from legal penalties to severe injuries and fatalities, supported by data and real-world trends.
We will also examine jaywalking laws by state, compare pedestrian risks across different parts of the country, and analyze how infrastructure, seasonal trends, and environmental conditions contribute to pedestrian fatalities
While the data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is publicly available, this study aims to provide additional context, clear insights, and greater transparency for readers.
Where Do Most Fatal Jaywalking Accidents Happen, and What Is the Role of Infrastructure?
Most fatal jaywalking accidents occur on roads without sidewalks. The (GHSA) reports that roughly 65% of pedestrian deaths in 2023 happened in areas lacking sidewalks, highlighting the dangers pedestrians face when basic infrastructure is missing. It is also an issue many Americans have increasingly recognized as conversations around walkable cities continue to grow across the country.
Research from The Washington Post further shows that the deadliest roads often combine poor pedestrian infrastructure, high speed limits, and longer crossing distances, all factors that have fueled growing calls for more walkable and pedestrian-friendly streets across the country.
In cities like Los Angeles, this pattern is even more concentrated; just 6% of streets account for 70% of all pedestrian deaths and severe injuries, according to city safety mapping data, showing how infrastructure failures tend to cluster along a small portion of the road network.
Together, these findings make it clear that many of the most serious jaywalking-related fatalities occur not randomly, but in specific high-risk environments where safe crossing options are limited or nonexistent.
What Time Are Pedestrians Most at Risk?
According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data, pedestrians are most at riskat night (especially on weekdays) and during the winter months.
That is not to say that other times and conditions are not dangerous for pedestrians who jaywalk, but there was a stark difference between nighttime and daytime fatalities.
Out of 7,080 total pedestrian fatalities, about 26% occurred during the daytime, while a significant 73% happened at night. The remaining less than 1% were classified as unknown.
Overall, this shows that nearly three out of four pedestrian deaths take place after dark, highlighting just how dangerous nighttime conditions can be.
This can be broken down even further into the time of day. The most dangerous hours of the day for pedestrians are between 8 pm and 9 pm: on weekdays, 369 fatalities occurred during this hour, and on the weekends, 329 fatalities happened. The hours following do still have significant fatalities as well, just not as many. From 9 pm to 9:59 pm, there were 354 fatalities on weekdays.
Seasonal Trends in Pedestrian Fatalities
Late fall and early winter consistently emerge as the most dangerous times of year, even in states that don’t experience the transitional changing of seasons.
A few reasons that may account for this are shorter daylight hours, visibility, and weather conditions, depending on the state.
As you can see, December, November, and January had the most fatalities, while the summer months had the least, a nationwide trend. Also, once you know the statistics, it’s impossible not to think about alcohol when considering jawwalking deaths, because such a large portion of these accidents involve it. In the winter months like December and January, people are more likely to drink. We’ll get into that next.
The Role That Alcohol Plays Cannot Be Ignored
According to the NHTSA, nearly half, 46%, of all fatal pedestrian crashes in 2023 involved alcohol with either the driver or the pedestrian. GHSA found that 29% of fatal accidents involved pedestrians whose blood alcohol content levels were above 0.08% in 2023.
That raises concerns beyond some of the more obvious issues like city planning and infrastructure.
It also points to less visible risk factors that extend beyond the built environment, touching on community dynamics, social conditions, and broader behavioral patterns that can influence pedestrian safety in meaningful ways.
A Larger Concern Emerging From the Data: Pedestrian Safety Is Often Overlooked in Favor of Driver Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that 74% of pedestrian fatalities in 2023 happened at non-intersection locations. That means thousands of people are finding different ways to get around on foot, often because pedestrian infrastructure just isn’t there.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) adds further context, reporting that 64% of pedestrian traffic fatalities occur on arterial roads: roads that are high-traffic, high-speed, and designed for traffic efficiency.
This is where pedestrian safety comes into the conversation. It seems like right now, even with data showing that these kinds of roads need pedestrian infrastructure and safety measures, they are not being considered.
Crosswalks exist, but what is the use if people are not using them, there are not enough of them, or they are inefficient? All of these questions arise after knowing some of the facts.
Who Is Most at Risk in Pedestrian and Jaywalking Accidents?
According to the NHTSA, working-age men are most at risk for fatal accidents, making up about 70% of all pedestrians who were killed, at a fatality rate of 3.11 per 100,000, compared to women who had a fatality rate of 1.26 per 100,000. The least likely to be in one of these fatal accidents are children under the age of 10.
Jaywalking Laws Across the United States
Jaywalking laws vary significantly by state, but most share a common expectation: pedestrians should use intersections and crosswalks whenever possible. This goes hand in hand with the data, as national crash data shows the same patterns over and over again; most fatalities happen outside of intersections.
Some states and cities, such as Denver, California, and New York City, have moved toward reducing enforcement in certain circumstances, while other states, like Florida, are stricter. However, data show that strict or lax rules and enforcement aren’t making much of a difference in pedestrian injuries and deaths.
Which States Have the Highest Jaywalking Fatalities?
There are also geographic trends to consider with jaywalking fatalities. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) projects that 25 states had pedestrian fatality rates above 2.0 per 100,000 people in 2024, up from 23 states in 2023, showing that elevated risk is spreading across more of the country rather than improving.
The data highlights how uneven the problem is across the United States, especially when comparing states by per-capita risk versus total deaths.
Here are some of the key points to take away from this data:
- States that had the highest pedestrian fatality rates per 100,000 residents: New Mexico (4.29), Mississippi (3.59), Louisiana (3.46), Nevada (3.38), and Arizona (3.33)
- Other high–rate states that follow closely behind: Florida (2.96), South Carolina (2.89), California (2.79), Delaware (2.72), District of Columbia (2.65), Georgia (2.58), Alabama (2.51), and Texas (2.50)
- Additional states with elevated rates (just above 2.0): North Carolina (2.42), Maryland (2.41), New Jersey (2.26), Tennessee (2.23), Oregon (2.23), Missouri (2.21), Kentucky (2.11), Alaska (2.05)
- Highest total pedestrian fatalities (driven by population size): California (1,090 deaths), Texas (763 deaths), Florida (668 deaths), Arizona (250 deaths), Georgia (286 deaths)
- States with the lowest pedestrian deaths: Washington (1.92), Idaho (1.83), Utah (1.79), Minnesota (1.76), and Vermont (1.71)
Even though the national pedestrian fatality rate slightly declined from 2.22 to 2.10, the overall pattern remains uneven and persistent. High-risk conditions are still present in roughly half of U.S. states.
Florida Spotlight: A High-Risk State for Pedestrians
As mentioned above, Florida is not as lax when compared to a state like California. Under Florida law, pedestrians must yield to vehicles when crossing outside of crosswalks, and diagonal crossing is prohibited. Despite this law, the state remains a high-risk state for pedestrians.
Florida recorded 668 pedestrian fatalities in 2024, along with more than 10,000 pedestrian-related crashes. 61 of those fatalities were classified as jaywalking-related, with Palm Beach and Broward counties reporting some of the highest totals.
Florida counties with pedestrian fatalities in 2024
| Rank | State | Recidivism: 3 Year Reincarceration Rate (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | 13.1 |
| 2 | Virginia | 17.6 |
| 3 | South Carolina | 18.5 |
| 4 | Minnesota | 19 |
| 5 | New York | 19.1 |
| 6 | South Dakota | 20.2 |
| 7 | Texas | 20.3 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 21 |
| 9 | Florida | 21.2 |
| 10 | Washington | 22.1 |
The Role of Driver Behavior and How Some States Are Recognizing This
Pedestrians definitely have their fair share of behaviors and actions they can practice to stay safe when walking on sidewalks, roads, and intersections; however, it’s also important to understand the critical role that driver action and behaviors play, which often lead to these collisions being fatal.
Speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, and other reckless behaviors all contribute to the risks drivers pose, especially in dense cities.
These dangers are further underscored by the fact that approximately 24% of pedestrian fatalities involve hit-and-run drivers, many of which occur at night when visibility is low, and witnesses are limited.
States are beginning to recognize the serious role that drivers play and have been adjusting their laws and safety regulations to reflect that risk. For example, Virginia focuses on enforcing violation codes on drivers, while California actively conducts sting operations targeting drivers at intersections and crosswalks.
Why is this shift in law important? It challenges drivers to recognize the responsibility towards pedestrians that comes with operating a vehicle that often weighs thousands of pounds, at high speeds.
Safety Tips for Pedestrians and Drivers
So, what does all this actually mean in real life? It means that jaywalking or even lawfully crossing a road is more dangerous than the average person may think. However, this data also provides insight into how both drivers and pedestrians can take steps to reduce fatalities, regardless of where in the country they live.
If you are a pedestrian, you are more likely to suffer from fatal injuries in these situations, so it’s important to be as safe as possible. To start, visibility and awareness are going to be huge.
Additionally, it’ll be helpful to never assume that a driver sees you. A large share of fatal incidents occur after dark, so wearing reflective clothing or using a light can make a real difference. Using designated crosswalks and staying alert, even when it’s your right of way, can be life-saving.
For drivers, driving at the speed limit, avoiding distractions, and yielding to pedestrians, even when they do not have the right of way, can also prevent potentially fatal injuries. It’s also important for drivers to get help if they hit a pedestrian, as a hit-and-run increases the likelihood of death.
Other common-sense driving tactics come into play here as well: drive carefully when weather and road conditions are poor, don’t be impaired, and follow road safety rules.
Moving Forward While Keeping Dangers in Mind
Jaywalking is something that most of us have done, but the risks are extremely high. Even if you think you are being safe, you never know what could happen, and when it’s between your body and a vehicle, things can turn fatal quickly.
The United States has thousands of pedestrian deaths every year, most of them occurring outside of designated crosswalks. Data in several states shows that this is a problem that encompasses factors like infrastructure, how laws are shaped and for whom, and the behaviors of both drivers and pedestrians.
The takeaway is simple: what feels like a quick shortcut can carry serious consequences, but with greater awareness and accountability, many of these tragedies are preventable.
If you’ve been injured as a pedestrian, you have rights and may have legal options. Get in touch with a Florida pedestrian accident lawyer from our team, who can evaluate your case for free, and provide essential guidance and support. At Anidjar & Levine, we do the fighting so you don’t have to.
