FLORIDA — Pedestrian fatalities in Florida fell slightly in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary data released Tuesday by the Governors Highway Safety Association.
The number of pedestrian fatalities in Florida has fluctuated over the past five years.
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Overall, 2,373 drivers died in crashes in the U.S. in the first half of 2023, 153 fewer than the same period last year, a small 4% decline, according to a report by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that represents state highway safety agencies.
According to the report, 397 pedestrians will be killed in Florida in the first half of 2023, down three from the first half of 2022, a change of 0.75%. The report includes historical data on pedestrian deaths from January through June, showing:
2019 (last): 385 pedestrians killed
2020 (last): 339 pedestrians killed
2021 (final): 414 pedestrians killed
2022 (actual): 400 pedestrians killed
2023 (tentative): 397 pedestrian deaths
The analysis found that 30 states, including Washington, D.C., saw a decrease in pedestrian fatalities in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, while 18 states saw an increase in pedestrian fatalities over the previous period. Three states saw no change in pedestrian fatalities.
Still, the number of pedestrians killed by drivers has risen 14% since 2019, the last full year before the pandemic upended travel patterns. The final data from that year showed pedestrian deaths were set to hit a 40-year high of more than 7,500 in 2022.
Despite the decline, pedestrian fatalities still increased by a staggering 58 percent between the first half of 2013 and the same period in 2023.
The report said multiple factors contribute to the deadly conditions on U.S. roads: A sharp decline in traffic enforcement across the country since 2020 has allowed speeding, drunk driving and other risky driving habits to flourish.
At the same time, roads are designed for fast-moving traffic, rather than slower speeds that are safer for pedestrians, the report said, noting that sidewalks and crosswalks are insufficient and lighting to protect pedestrians is inadequate in many parts of the country.
