Pedestrian & Bicycle Crash Statistics,

Survey Results, & NHTSA Resources

Heidi L. Coleman

Chief, Behavioral Research

2012 Motor Vehicle Related

Fatalities and Injuries

Fatalities % of Total

Fatalities

Injuries % of Total

Injuries

Total 33,561 2,362,000

Pedestrian 4,743 14.1 76,000 3.2

Bicyclist 726 2.2 49,000 2.1

Source: FARS and GES 2

Pedestrian and Bicyclist Fatalities

and Percent of Total Fatalities by Year

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Pe

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Nu

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Pedestrian Fatalities Bicyclist Fatalities

Pedestrian - Percent of Total Fatalities Bicyclist - Percent of Total Fatalities 3

Pedestrian Fatalities and Fatality Rate by Age Group

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

<5 5–9 10–15 16–20 21–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65–74 75–84 85+ Overall

Fata

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10

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Age Group

2009 Fatalities 2010 Fatalities 2011 Fatalities 2012 Fatalities

2009 Fatality Rate 2010 Fatality Rate 2011 Fatality Rate 2012 Fatality Rate 4

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

<5 5–9 10–15 16–20 21–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65–74 75–84 85+ Overall

Fata

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Age Group

2009 Fatalities 2010 Fatalities 2011 Fatalities 2012 Fatalities

2009 Fatality Rate 2010 Fatality Rate 2011 Fatality Rate 2012 Fatality Rate 5

Bicyclist Fatalities and Fatality Rate by Age Group

Alcohol Use by Pedestrians & Bicyclists

in Fatal Crashes

43% of fatal crashes involving a pedestrian and motor vehicle involved a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher

34% of pedestrians killed in motor vehicle crashes had a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher

14% of drivers involved in pedestrian crashes had a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher

32% of fatal crashes involving a bicyclist and motor vehicle involved a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher

24% of bicyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes had a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher

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Pedestrians, Bicyclists, and Distracted Driving

• In 2011, 10% of all fatal crashes

were reported as distraction-

affected crashes

• Resulted in 3,331 fatalities

• 58 (2%) of fatalities were

bicyclists

• 408 (12%) of fatalities were

pedestrians

• NHTSA study initiated

(focus on distraction in

pedestrian conflicts)

7

Last Time Walked or Bicycled?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Within the

past week

Within the

past

month

Within the

past year

1-2 years

ago

3-5 years

ago

More than

5 years

ago

Never Can't

walk/ride,

Disabled

Pe

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esp

on

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nts

Walked Bicycled 8

2012 National Survey on Bicyclist and

Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior n = 7,509 respondents, age 16 and up

If you walked/bicycled within the last year -

On average during the summer months, how often

did you walk/bicycle?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

At least once a

week

At least once a

month

Less than once a

month

Never

Pe

rce

nt o

f R

esp

on

de

nts

Frequency

2002 Walked 2012 Walked 2002 Bicycled 2012 Bicycled

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

Frequency of Using Bike Paths/Lanes

Based on Proximity

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Every time Most of the time Some of the

time

Hardly ever Never

Pe

rce

nt o

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esp

on

de

nts

Frequency

Bike paths nearby NO bike paths nearby

Bike lanes nearby NO bike lanes nearby

20

Threats to Personal Safety

#1 Reason = Motorists – too close & too fast

Uneven walkways/roadway surfaces, dogs or other animals,

and the potential for crime were also mentioned 22

0

5

10

15

20

25

Total Male Female White Black Hispanic Non-

Hispanic

16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

Gender Race Ethnicity Age

Pe

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esp

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Bicycling Walking

Electronic Device Use on Trips

by Pedestrians & Bicyclists

Device use more common among ages 16 - 24

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Nearly all More than

half

About half Some Almost none None

Pe

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esp

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nts

Trip Use Frequency

Walking - 16 and up Walking - 16-24 Bicycling - 16 and up Bicycling - 16-24

21

Device use more common among ages 16 - 24

Helmet Use: 2002 vs. 2012

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

All or nearly

all rides

Most rides Some rides Not very

many rides

Never

Pe

rce

nt o

f R

esp

on

de

nts

Use Frequency

2002 2012

23

24

25

26

Injuries While Walking

• 3% of respondents indicated that they were injured while walking

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NHTSA Pedestrian and Bicycle

Related Resources 2012 National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian - Attitudes and Behavior

(Volumes 1, 2, 3)

Database of National Telephone Surveys

2012 Pedestrians Traffic Safety Fact Sheet

2012 Bicyclists & Other Cyclists Traffic Safety Fact Sheet

Not-in-Traffic Surveillance: Fatality and Injury Statistics in Non-traffic Crashes - 2008 to 2011

Not-in-Traffic Surveillance: Child Fatality and Injury in Non-traffic Crashes - 2008 to 2011

Countermeasures That Work: A Highway Safety Countermeasure Guide for State Highway Safety Offices - Seventh Edition, 2013

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Thank You!

Questions?

Heidi L. Coleman

Chief, Behavioral Research

202-366-2568

heidi.coleman@dot.gov

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