Health E-Stat 107: Trends in Pedestrian and Pedal Cyclist Injury Deaths: United States, 2013–2023

by Anne M. Zehner, M.P.H., and Matthew F. Garnett, M.P.H.

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Pedestrians and pedal cyclists are recognized as two classes of vulnerable road users, or those who travel on roads and highways without the physical protection provided by a motor vehicle, such as a car or truck (1). Pedestrian and pedal cyclist injury deaths include injuries sustained due to walking, running, standing, or otherwise being on foot on a public road or private property and cycling on a public road or private property, respectively, and include motor vehicle traffic-related and non-motor vehicle traffic-related injuries. This report describes trends in pedestrian and pedal cyclist injury deaths from 2013 to 2023 by census region, sex, and age group.

Between 2013 and 2023, the age-adjusted rate of pedestrian and pedal cyclist injury death in the United States rose from 2.1 deaths per 100,000 standard population to 2.9 (Figure 1, Table). During the period, rates increased in the Midwest, South, and West. No significant change was seen in rates for the Northeast between 2013 and 2023. In all years, rates were higher for the South and West compared with those for the Northeast and Midwest.

Among women ages 25–44 and 45–64, the rate of pedestrian and pedal cyclist injury death increased between 2013 and 2023 (Figure 2, Table). No significant trends were observed between 2013 and 2023 for females ages 0–14 and 15–24 and women age 65 and older.

Among men age 25 and older, the death rate for pedestrian and pedal cyclist injury increased between 2013 and 2023 (Figure 3, Table). The death rate decreased for males ages 0–14 in this same period, with no significant trend seen for males ages 15–24.

Data source and methods

Data are from the National Vital Statistics System mortality files for 2013 through 2023, as presented in CDC WONDER (2,3). Deaths were identified using International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD–10) underlying cause-of-death codes V01–V09 for pedestrians and V10–V19 for pedal cyclists (4). Tests for trends in rates were performed in Joinpoint 5.0.2 (5–7). Age-adjusted death rates were calculated using the direct method and were adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population (6).

References

1. Vulnerable Road User. Pub L No 23 USC, 148 (a)(15). 2023.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC WONDER. 2018–2023 underlying cause of death by single-race categories. 2024. Available from: https://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10-expanded.html.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC WONDER. 1999–2020 underlying cause of death by bridged-race categories. 2022. Available from: https://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html.
4. World Health Organization. International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, 10th revision (ICD–10). 5th ed. 2016.
5. National Cancer Institute. Joinpoint Regression Program. Version 5.0.2 [computer software]. 2023.
6. Murphy SL, Kochanek KD, Xu JQ, Arias E. Deaths: Final data for 2021. Natl Vitl Stat Rep. 2024 Oct;73(8):1–139. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/158787.
7. Ingram DD, Malec DJ, Makuk DM, Kruszon-Moran D, Gindi RM, Albert M, et al. National Center for Health Statistics guidelines for analysis of trends. Vital Health Stat 2. 2018 Apr(179):1–71. PMID: 29775435.

Suggested citation

Zehner AM, Garnett MF. Trends in pedestrian and pedal cyclist injury deaths: United States, 2013–2023. NCHS Health E-Stats. 2025 Jul;(107):1–6. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174605.

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