Pedestrian Fatalities on the Rise in Washington State

Washington State sees a high number of pedestrian fatalities on its roads every year. Even though lawmakers have enacted measures to reduce traffic-related deaths, our numbers have continued to claim. Pedestrians continue to be vulnerable road users, with nothing to protect them from the force of a colliding vehicle.

How Many Pedestrian Fatalities are There in Washington?

More than 100 pedestrians are killed by motorists every year in Washington State. However, that does not paint the full picture of the hundreds of additional pedestrians who are struck and seriously injured on our roads. Not to mention, the lives of families and friends impacted by each victim.

The table below contains data about pedestrian-involved crashes in Washington:

Year	Total Pedestrian-Involved Crashes	Fatal Crashes	Serious Injury Crashes	Alcohol and/or Drug Related	Distracted Driver
2016	2,431	92	355	56	158
2017	2,362	108	350	52	169
2018	2,507	102	393	58	164
2019	2,275	106	352	61	141
2020	1,631	113	296	76	103
2021	1,810	131	410	91	137
2022	1,459	126	398	76	125

Data comes from WSDOT and Target Zero.

While the overall number of pedestrian-involved crashes has declined since 2019, serious injuries and fatalities have increased. There was a slight dip in these figures in 2022 when compared to 2021. However, the difference was not meaningful. Preliminary numbers for year-to-date 2023 are grim, too. As of November 30, 2023, a total of 121 pedestrians have been killed and 519 serious injuries reported.

Bottom line, we are moving away from the goal of zero traffic deaths by 2030 and we’ll need to take drastic action to reverse these trends. If you are curious about additional trends, make sure to visit our Washington car crash statistics post.

Contributing Factors to Pedestrian Fatalities and Injuries

There are situations where collisions with pedestrians become more likely and more deadly. In other words, certain factors increase risks for pedestrians. Some of these include:

Distracted driving. Distracted driving is a contributing factor in 32% of pedestrian fatalities. In a collision, a distracted driver is more likely to kill a pedestrian than a drunk one.
Pedestrian impairment. We all know that drinking and driving is dangerous. But it’s also dangerous to cross the street while drunk. Intoxicated pedestrians make up 44% of fatalities.
Lack of infrastructure. Many urban and low-income areas lack sidewalks, crosswalks, and mixed-use paths. In fact, over half of all pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries happen when people cross streets without crosswalks.
Vehicle speed. Most deaths and injuries occur on roads with posted speed limits of 30 mph or more. The greater the speed of the car, the greater the injury – or possibility of death.
Visibility. Not surprisingly, most of these accidents happen in fall and winter months, and during dark/dusk hours.

What is Washington Doing to Make Walking Safer?

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is working to improve pedestrian safety.

First, WSDOT is conducting a number of research studies. For example, the University of Washington is currently working on a Pedestrian Risk assessment. The study is looking at collisions at both intersections and non-intersections. By identifying hotspots, WSDOT can make needed traffic changes.

In addition, the State of Washington pledged $41 million to make safety improvements for pedestrians. Priority for the grant money is given to applications in low-income areas, where infrastructure is often lacking. These programs can make a real difference in their communities. For example, WSDOT evaluated results of projects completed between 2005 and 2015. They discovered a 43% decrease in walking- and biking-related crashes at projects sites.

Finally, Washington is creating new laws that focus on pedestrian safety. In the 2019 legislative session, two new Senate Bills were passed focused on pedestrian safety.

Safety Tips for Drivers and Pedestrians

Whether driving or walking, there are a few things we can do to make our roads safer for everyone. For instance, we can:

Follow the rules of the road. Drive the stated speed limit. Only cross at intersections and crosswalks. Above all, yield to pedestrians.
Be safe when drinking. When you drink, your judgment and motor coordination are impacted. This is true whether you’re walking down the sidewalk or behind the wheel. Simply put, have a plan to get a ride or stay home when drinking.
Avoid distractions. This goes for both drivers and pedestrians! Pay attention to your surroundings – that text can wait. When walking, keep the volume low on your headphones so you can hear approaching cars.
Walkers: make yourself visible. Grab the safety vest or reflective gear when walking your dog in the early morning hours. Avoid wearing all dark colors at night. Remember, the more time drivers have to spot and adjust to you, the better.

It’s clear Washington is not on track to achieve its Target Zero goal. The good news is that measures are being put in place to change this situation. And, if we as drivers and pedestrians can do our part to share the roadways, we may help this even further.

We Can Help When You’ve Been Injured

Have you been a victim in a car accident? Maybe you were a pedestrian injured by a distracted driver? If so, we’d love to talk to you. Please call the Ladenburg Law Injury Attorneys. When you do, we’ll provide you with a free consultation about your case.