Key Takeaways:
- California has the highest count of fatal jaywalking accidents in the U.S., with 942 fatalities over a five-year period. In contrast, North Dakota recorded the lowest count, with only 1.
- Colorado has the highest proportion of fatal jaywalking accidents among all pedestrian-related accidents, with 56%. The second highest is Arizona with 45% in addition to ranking second for the highest total count, at 539 fatalities.
- The majority of jaywalking fatalities occur on state highways, with 1,843 fatal accidents over five years, accounting for 28% of all fatal jaywalking accidents across road types. In second place is local streets with a 26% share.
- When analyzing the roads where jaywalking is riskiest, 44% of states report the largest proportion of fatal jaywalking accidents occurring on state highways.
Jaywalking, defined as improper crossing of a roadway or intersection, has become so commonplace in many cities that it’s often seen as just another part of urban life rather than a significant risk. While jaywalking is widely normalized, especially in major pedestrian hubs, our motor vehicle-centric culture and road designs that often overlook pedestrian needs can have deadly consequences.
Unfortunately, jaywalking – and the lack of adequate pedestrian safety infrastructure – can put both pedestrians and drivers in harm’s way. In the United States, 20% of pedestrian crash fatalities are linked to jaywalking. Learn more about common pedestrian accidents and their causes.
While the legality of Jaywalking varies by jurisdiction, there is a growing shift toward relaxing these laws, as critics argue they disproportionately penalize pedestrians in areas with inadequate infrastructure.
In this study, we analyzed five years worth of data (2018-2022) from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to identify the states and cities with the most dangerous jaywalking hotspots and to explore the factors contributing to these troubling patterns.
Mapping Jaywalking Risks Across the States
To begin, we’ll examine the data on fatal jaywalking accidents by state.
At the state level, more pedestrians are killed crossing unmarked or uncontrolled roads in California (942) than in any other state – with nearly double the number of such collisions as Arizona, the next closest state.
As the most populous state in the U.S., with major urban centers like Los Angeles and San Francisco, along with a climate conducive to year-round pedestrian activity, California naturally sees a high volume of walking pedestrians, despite some believing otherwise. This, coupled with dense traffic and limited pedestrian infrastructure in some areas, likely contributes to its high count. Georgia ranks third.
However, when considering the share of fatal jaywalking accidents out of all pedestrian-related crashes, Colorado tops the list, followed by Arizona and Michigan. California ranks 28th in this category.
The table below displays both the number of fatal collisions where jaywalking was listed as a factor as well as their percentage of all fatal pedestrian crashes. Higher shares of jaywalking crashes may indicate a safety issue for pedestrians, such as a lack of pedestrian infrastructure or attitudes towards non-motorists.
Jaywalking Hotspots Across U.S. Cities
Next, to uncover why certain states stand out for jaywalking risks, we examined accidents by city. This level of analysis helps us understand how urban centers, often with higher pedestrian activity and dense traffic, may disproportionately drive statewide trends.
Phoenix ranks as the top city for fatal jaywalking fatalities, recording 260 crashes over a five-year period. It also stands out being found in the second-highest state for the highest percentage of fatal jaywalking fatalities among all fatal pedestrian crashes, at 54.62%. This may be largely due to Phoenix’s road design, which may lack sufficient pedestrian infrastructure, prompting residents to jaywalk as a shortcut, particularly in the city’s year-round warm climate. From the driver’s perspective, speeding may exacerbate risks, reducing reaction times and increasing the likelihood of fatal accidents. In response, Phoenix has recently launched a new speed enforcement program in select areas to enhance safety for both pedestrians and drivers.
Lakewood, Colorado leads as the top city for the highest share of fatal jaywalking fatalities, with 79.17% of all pedestrian fatal crashes linked to jaywalking. This city, along with three other Colorado cities in the top ten, highlights Colorado’s position as the state with the highest share of fatal jaywalking accidents nationwide, despite being only tenth by total accident count. Like many American cities, this trend likely stems from pedestrian activity being treated as an afterthought in road design.
Additionally, a lack of enforcement for speeding and reckless driving may contribute, with drivers potentially underestimating the likelihood of encountering jaywalking pedestrians. In January 2023, Denver’s city council decriminalized jaywalking, aiming to reduce racial disparities in enforcement. While the policy shift addresses social equity concerns, its impact on jaywalking fatalities remains to be seen in the coming years.
Providing Context Around Jaywalking Fatalities
To better understand the factors contributing to jaywalking fatalities, we explored where they happen, why they occur, and the key risks involved.
While it’s intuitive that most pedestrian jaywalking fatalities occur in the middle of the road—where drivers are least likely to expect pedestrian encounters—this may also point to a lack of adequate pedestrian infrastructure. Often, pedestrians are forced to navigate areas where marked or safe crossing options are limited, making compliance with traffic laws more difficult.
Jaywalking fatalities are not just about pedestrian behavior—they are also heavily influenced by the type of road, as different road types are designed with varying expectations and considerations for pedestrian activity. To further understand the conditions under which fatal jaywalking accidents occur, we analyzed the types of roads involved, ranging from country roads to U.S. highways.
The greatest number of jaywalking fatalities occur on state highways, with 1,843 fatal jaywalking accident recordings over five years, accounting for 28% of all fatal jaywalking accidents across road types. These highways are also hotspots for severe car accidents involving drivers and pedestrians. Local streets follow closely, with 1,713 crashes, making up 26%. The data highlights the risks pedestrians face on state highways, which are under state control and may not be receiving enough attention in terms of pedestrian safety.
This presents an opportunity for states to assess these roads, or the surrounding environment, and identify areas for improvement to reduce pedestrian accident risks. Similarly, the high proportion of fatalities on local streets reflects the challenges urban environments face, where pedestrian traffic is more frequent but infrastructure may still be inadequate to ensure safety.
Additionally, 11% of fatal jaywalking accidents occur when pedestrians cross expressways, reinforcing the idea that many American cities lack the walkability needed to safely navigate these environments.
Next, we analyzed the distribution of jaywalking fatalities by road type across different states. This helps identify which states may need to prioritize safety improvements on specific road types.
Jaywalking deaths were most common on state highways in 22 U.S. States, including Georgia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Local streets, however, were most deadly in 13 states, notably, accounting for 40 percent of jaywalking fatalities in New York. Jaywalking deaths were most common on U.S. highways in 11 states. In Ohio, the highest proportion occurred on country roads, while in Texas, it was on interstates. Oregon saw an even split between state highways and local streets.
Among states with the highest accident counts, California was part of the majority where state highways accounted for the highest proportion of fatalities, with 18% of fatal jaywalking accidents occurring there. However, it’s worth noting that 59% of California’s fatal jaywalking accidents were reported under “other” or “unknown” road types, which limits the conclusions we can draw. Meanwhile, in Arizona, 81% of fatal jaywalking accidents occurred on local streets. For all other pedestrian-related crashes in Arizona, this figure dropped to 55%.
The discrepancy between jaywalking-related and non-jaywalking-related pedestrian accidents highlights the unique dangers jaywalking poses on local streets. While non-jaywalking accidents still occur at a notable rate, jaywalking fatalities dominate, pointing to a need for targeted interventions in urban areas to address risky pedestrian behaviors and improve walkability.
When we examine the data at the city level, Phoenix, Arizona, has 92.31% of its fatal jaywalking accidents occurring on local streets. For all other pedestrian-related crashes, the share is slightly lower at 81.48%. Similarly, another high-accident city in Arizona, Tucson, shows 84.45% of fatal jaywalking accidents and 71.42% of all other pedestrian-related fatal accidents occurring on local streets. This suggests that local streets in Arizona cities, particularly Phoenix, pose risks for jaywalking pedestrians. The high share of fatal jaywalking accidents on local streets indicates that these areas may lack crosswalks, lighting, or clear traffic control measures, which are essential for safety.
One recent accident occurred on a local Phoenix road with six lanes and no pedestrian islands or other safety features. As a relatively newer city, Phoenix’s road design has prioritized wide roads to accommodate smooth traffic flow during peak hours like rush hour, but its original design lacks the necessary traffic calming measures to protect pedestrians
In response to the state’s high pedestrian fatality trends, Arizona and its major cities have started to implement a number of initiatives to build a sustainable transportation network, the installation of pedestrian refuge islands, the use of high-intensity activated crosswalks (HAWKs), and the adoption of Complete Streets initiatives that prioritize pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.
Some Final Notes
While our study highlights regions across the nation with the highest risks for fatal jaywalking accidents, the lack of specific data on pedestrian activity—particularly jaywalking—limits our ability to fully understand the issue. While we can infer patterns based on population density and local cultural norms, high fatality counts don’t necessarily tell the full story.
However, by examining accident data by road type, we can identify clear opportunities to improve pedestrian safety. States like Arizona, with its high number and proportion of fatal jaywalking accidents, stand out in this regard. In conclusion, reducing jaywalking fatalities requires a comprehensive approach—addressing road design, pedestrian behavior, and driver behavior with a particular focus on areas with the highest risks.
Methodology
We analyzed data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to identify regions across the U.S. with the highest figures in fatal jaywalking accidents, incidents where at least one pedestrian was killed while jaywalking. The dataset covers a five-year period from 2018 to 2022, providing a comprehensive look at trends and patterns in jaywalking-related deaths.
Fair Use Statement
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