Bicycle Accidents Fatalities in the United States

Why is it important for advocacy groups to encourage cities and towns to embrace bike safety measures and bicycling programs?

Here’s why: Bicycle safety programs save lives. The bicyclist fatality rate has dropped substantially since cities began to designate bike lanes, provide information about bicyclist safety, and pass laws to protect cyclists.

• fatalities per million people in the United States.
• In 2011, the bicyclist fatality rate had dropped to 2.2 per million.

The rate of bicycle accident fatalities was literally cut in half. However, bike fatalities in the United States continue to outpace bike fatalities in countries with more sophisticated infrastructure designs.

Pedestrian Accident Fatalities in the United States

Increased awareness about pedestrian safety has also helped to reduce the rate at which pedestrians are killed on American roads to some extent. Pedestrian deaths have decreased 13% from 1975 to 2020, although they’ve increased 59% from their lowest point in 2009. Pedestrian fatalities actually increased 4% from 2019 to 2020.

In recent years, distracted walking has become a significant issue in many areas of the country. States like California that see especially high foot traffic have seen an increase in pedestrian fatalities. David Munoz, a prominent personal injury attorney with Mission Personal Injury Lawyers in San Diego, has theorized that certain walking practices are to blame.

Munoz believes that the rise in pedestrian fatalities could be due in part to practices like texting and walking. “People are not using caution when walking on our streets and sidewalks. They’re too busy looking at their phones to be aware of what is going on around them. Many avoidable accidents are occurring as a result.”

Hit and Run Accidents Involving Pedestrians & Bicyclists

Hit-and-run accidents, particularly those occurring in urban areas, are becoming increasingly more dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that there were 26% more hit-and-run fatalities in 2020 than there were in 2019. A total of 24% of all pedestrian fatalities involved a hit-and-run in 2020 as well as 22% of bicyclist fatalities.

Biking and walking are becoming more popular in cities like New York and Chicago, but these urban areas are not keeping up with the demand for safer bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. This forces bicyclists and pedestrians to share busy and overcrowded roads with passenger vehicles, putting them at an increased risk of injury and death.

While states like Illinois and New York may not have the most bicyclist and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, drivers are encouraged to exercise caution when sharing the road. Failure to use care can result in serious criminal consequences. Until urban areas can revitalize and revamp their roadways to make commuting safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, the threat of criminal penalties will act as a deterrent to dangerous driving.

Traffic

There is no denying that American roads are becoming increasingly congested. Unfortunately, as more drivers take the road, fatal and injury-causing accidents happen more frequently. As a result, drivers are ditching their cars and opting to bike and walk. More bikes and walkers will lead to a decline in traffic and, hopefully, reduce the number of accidents on American roads.

Physical Health

Traveling by car can be disastrous for our health. Getting out and moving, whether on a bicycle or by foot, has demonstrated health benefits. Individuals who bike or walk regularly report lower rates of heart disease, cancer, and obesity.

Mental Health

There is no substitute for some quality Vitamin D therapy. Getting your blood flowing while exposing yourself to the sun can do wonders for mental health. Bicyclists and pedestrians generally report having less anxiety and fewer depressive episodes than those individuals strictly rely on a car.

Social

The bicycling community in America is growing. Biking is no longer just a way to get from Point A to Point B, but an opportunity to engage with like-minded people.

Environmental

Ditching the car and choosing to bike or walk is especially important for the environment. Transportation is responsible for approximately 27 percent of the United States’ global greenhouse gas emissions. More cyclists and pedestrians will lead to fewer cars on the road. Fewer cars should help to combat the growing global climate crisis.

Bicyclist & Pedestrian Safety

Increased accessibility to biking and walking infrastructure will be incredibly beneficial for the public health. New bike lanes will not only resonate with experienced riders, but encourage new cyclists to hit the roads, as well. If riders of all experience levels do not understand their obligations on shared roads and fail to exercise proper caution, accidents and injuries will happen. Bicyclists and pedestrians must take the initiative to be prepared, cautious, and safe.

Bicyclist Safety

Safety Gear: Bicyclists tend to suffer serious and life-threatening injuries when they are involved in traffic accidents because, unlike passengers in an enclosed vehicle, they are vulnerable to the outside elements. Make sure that you purchase and wear any safety gear, including helmets and gloves, before hitting the open road.

Bike Maintenance: Before hitting the road, bicyclists should make sure that their bike is in proper working condition. Routine maintenance will help to keep your bike from failing on the road.

Visibility: You and your bike should be equipped with proper safety reflective devices. Consider installing reflective discs and flags on your bike and wearing reflective materials. Visibility is essential to reducing bike accidents.

Obey the Rule of the Road: Are you familiar with your city’s local bike laws? Do you know your obligations as a cyclist when you’re sharing the road with other vehicles? What hand signals can you use to communicate with other drivers? Brushing up on your responsibilities as a cyclist will keep you safe.

Pedestrian Safety

It seems as though more pedestrians are on America’s roads than ever before. Even if your town has installed sidewalks, painted crosswalks, and installed electronic signals for pedestrians, your safety cannot be guaranteed. You must be alert and aware at all times when you are walking alongside traffic.

Make sure that you understand local pedestrian laws. An increasing number of towns are passing legislation to reduce the number of pedestrian deaths. These ordinances can prohibit and/or require certain behavior. Violations can be dangerous and result in harsh fines and penalties. While cities are embracing pedestrians, safety is ultimately your responsibility.

For more information, see our benchmarking report and more information on past benchmarking reports.