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Research & Data

Pedestrians

Improving the safety of pedestrians, who are among the most vulnerable roadway users, is a priority for New York State. As with other program safety areas, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee has provided funding for ITSMR to conduct studies on pedestrian safety.

pedestrian crossing sign

Research Notes & Reports

Crashes Involving Pedestrians

pedestrian on crosswalkNew York State Vehicle and Traffic Law defines a pedestrian as any person afoot or in a wheelchair and includes people on personal conveyances such as roller skates, skateboards and scooters. Recognizing that pedestrian safety continues to be a serious concern in New York State, GTSC provided funding to ITSMR to analyze the data collected on motor vehicle crashes involving pedestrians. These research notes present information about pedestrian crashes, fatalities and injuries and examine a number variables related to pedestrian crashes including environmental characteristics, alcohol involvement, crash contributing factors and pedestrian actions.

Key Findings

  • Pedestrian safety continues to be a serious concern. Pedestrians accounted for almost one quarter of the fatalities on New York’s roadways during the years 2016-2020.
  • New York City remains the area of greatest concern, accounting for more than 4 out of 10 pedestrian fatalities and more than 7 out of 10 pedestrians injured during the years 2014-2018 and 2016-2020.
  • In both studies half of the pedestrians killed were ages 55 and older.
  • While year-to-year fluctuations in the numbers of pedestrians killed or injured in motor vehicle crashes occurred between 2016 and 2020, the numbers of pedestrians killed or injured in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, saw a sharp decline compared to previous years.
CRASHES INVOLVING PEDESTRIANS ON NY ROADWAYS: 2016-2020
(Published February 2022)
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CRASHES INVOLVING PEDESTRIANS ON NY ROADWAYS: 2014-2018
(Published October 2019)
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Fact Sheets

Pedestrians Crashes 2018-2022

December 2023

Pedestrian Crashes 2017-2021

December 2022

Pedestrian Crashes 2016-2020

November 2021

Pedestrian Crashes 2015-2019

November 2020

Pedestrian Crashes 2014-2018

October 2019

Pedestrian Crashes 2013-2017

October 2018

Pedestrian Crashes 2012-2016

October 2017

Pedestrian Crashes 2011-2015

October 2016

Pedestrian Crashes 2010-2014

October 2015

Pedestrian Crashes 2009-2013

December 2014

Discover more data in the Traffic Safety Statistical Repository (TSSR)

Developed to provide broader access to New York’s traffic safety data, the TSSR contains motor vehicle crash data obtained from the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Accident Information System (AIS) over the past 10 years, including preliminary data for the current year.