US road safety issue for vulnerable road users

Vulnerable road users face risks in the US. While road fatalities are falling overall in the US, pedestrians and cyclists have seen an increase in road deaths in recent years.

Driver fatalities have dropped from 27,348 in 2006 to 23,611 in 2017. However, road deaths for pedestrians and cyclists have increased from 5,567 in 2006 to 6,760 in 2017.

Poor attitude by US drivers is thought to be a key factor. Aggressive behaviour behind the wheel and driver distraction, particularly with the use of cellphones, are thought to be key factors. Road deaths amongst vulnerable road users are rising in the US, a factor not seen in other developed nations. Between 2010 and 2016, pedestrian deaths dropped by 37% in Norway. But in the US in the same period, pedestrian deaths increased by 39%.

The issue of poor safety for vulnerable road users is a problem in many countries across the globe. Injuries resulting from road traffic crashes are the single biggest cause of death for children and young adults around the world. More than half of all traffic deaths are of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.