Pedestrian Deaths in the U.S. on the Rise

So why the increase in pedestrian deaths? The causes are numerous. People drive more, and they drive faster. Speed limits are increasing. Big and heavy SUVs, which are still gaining popularity, are more dangerous to pedestrians. Drivers are distracted by electronic devices.

Infrastructure plays a role, too, since data shows that pedestrians are more likely to be hit in areas that don't have enough sidewalks or where traffic lights and signage are not well maintained.

So where are these issues the most problematic? According to an email interview with Kim Stewart, senior editor at IIHS, and published reports:

Where and when do most pedestrian deaths occur?

Who's most at risk?

"The increase [in pedestrian deaths] has been mostly in urban or suburban areas, at non-intersections, on arterials (busy roads designed mainly to funnel vehicle traffic toward freeways) and in the dark," Stewart says. "Though most pedestrian crashes involve cars, fatal single-vehicle crashes are increasingly likely to involve SUVs and high-horsepower vehicles."

The high-horsepower factor is particularly alarming. More research by IIHS found that the higher the horsepower-to-weight ratio of a vehicle, the faster it's likely to be driven. Traveling fast both reduces a driver's reaction time and increases the distance required to slow down or stop a car. Also, the faster a vehicle is traveling when it hits a pedestrian (or any obstacle), the more impact it will cause.

A lot of vehicle safety testing and innovation concentrates on protecting a vehicle's driver and passengers in a collision, but that can be bad news for pedestrians. According to a report by the Governors Highway Safety Association, these safety measures, which typically focus on improving structural integrity, can make a vehicle more deadly if it hits a pedestrian. However, automakers also are steadily rolling out new safety technology designed to reduce impacts with pedestrians and other obstacles.

These features include:

According to IIHS's Stewart, front-crash prevention systems are especially important, particularly those designed to work in low-light conditions.

"Front-crash prevention systems continuously monitor traffic in front of vehicles and warn drivers of potential collisions," she says. "Many systems automatically apply the brakes when a crash is imminent. Most current systems are designed primarily to address front-to-rear crashes with leading vehicles. Some systems are designed to prevent or mitigate crashes with pedestrians as well."

One example is Subaru's EyeSight driver assist technology, which Stewart said was studied by the Highway Loss Data Institute. Based on insurance records, pedestrian injury claim rates were 35 percent lower among vehicles with EyeSight than among vehicles without, which shows that such systems are effective.

"An IIHS review of traffic engineering measures to reduce pedestrian crashes identified three main approaches: separating pedestrians from vehicles by time or space, making pedestrians easier to spot and reducing vehicle speeds," Stewart says.

That means more sidewalks, overpasses, underpasses, refuge islands in the medians of two-way streets, and traffic signals to give pedestrians time to cross streets without sharing the signal with cars. In addition to improving vehicle lighting, many areas also need better street lighting, too, so drivers can more easily see people on or near the roadways.

Finally, Stewart says, it's important to remember that simply slowing down when driving will reduce the number of pedestrian impacts, as well as the severity of injuries when they are hit. She said the IIHS is in favor of reducing speed limits and using speed cameras to help enforce them.