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
rce
nt o
f To
tal Fa
talit
ies
Nu
mb
er
of Fa
talit
ies
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
lity
Ra
te p
er
10
0,0
00 P
op
ula
tio
n
Nu
mb
er
of Fa
talit
ies
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
lity
Ra
te p
er
10
0,0
00 P
op
ula
tio
n
Nu
mb
er
of Fa
talit
ies
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
6
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
rce
nt o
f R
esp
on
de
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
f R
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
rce
nt o
f R
esp
on
de
nts
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
rce
nt o
f R
esp
on
de
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
27
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
28
Thank You!
Questions?
Heidi L. Coleman
Chief, Behavioral Research
202-366-2568
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