Active transportation - Fatalities and serious injuries
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Active transportation safety measures involving fatalities and serious injuries
Fatalities & serious injuries
Crashes that result in bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries occur mostly in population centers, at higher posted speeds, and when active transportation users are crossing the road. Traffic fatalities involving pedestrians include people in wheelchairs and those using small rideable devices such as skateboards and scooters.
Source: WSDOT Transportation Data, GIS & Modeling Office
Note: Pedestrians include people in wheelchairs and those using small rideable devices such as skateboards and scooters, in addition to those walking. Data for 2019 is preliminary.
Multi-year trends
The number of bicyclist fatalities in Washington state decreased by 6.7% between 2017 and 2021, going from 15 to 14. In contrast, the number of pedestrian fatalities increased over that period, rising 32.1% from 109 in 2017 to 144 in 2021. Pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities as a percentage of all traffic fatalities were same percentage point between 2017 and 2021, going from 23% to 23%.
Between 2017 and 2021, the number of bicyclists with serious injuries increased 7.6%, going from 92 to 99. Over the same period, the number of pedestrian serious injuries increased 14.8% from 357 in 2017 to 410 in 2021. Pedestrian and bicyclist serious injuries as a percentage of all traffic serious injuries decreased 6 percentage points between 2017 and 2021, going from 23% to 17%.
Annual highlights
In 2021, there were 14 bicyclist fatalities, up by one from 13 in 2020. There were 141 pedestrian fatalities in 2021, up by 34 from 110 in 2020. In 2021, there were 99 bicyclist serious injuries, a increase of 5.3% from 94 in 2020. There were 410 pedestrian serious injuries in 2021, a increase of 35.3% from 303 in 2020. In 2021, 23% of all traffic fatalities were pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, up one percentage points from 22% in 2020. Pedestrian and bicyclist serious injuries made up 17% of all traffic fatalities in 2021, down from 19% in 2020.
In 2020, there were 12 bicyclist fatalities, up by three from nine in 2019. There were 105 pedestrian fatalities in 2020, down by two from 107 in 2019. In 2020, there were 95 bicyclist serious injuries, a decrease of 7.8% from 103 in 2019. There were 306 pedestrian serious injuries in 2020, a decrease of 14.5% from 358 in 2019. In 2020, 22% of all traffic fatalities were pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, same percentage points from 22% in 2019. Pedestrian and bicyclist serious injuries made up 19% of all traffic fatalities in 2020, down from 24% in 2019.
In 2019, there were nine bicyclist fatalities, down by six from 15 in 2018. There were 107 pedestrian fatalities in 2019, up by four from 103 in 2018. In 2019, there were 103 bicyclist serious injuries, a decrease of 15.6% from 122 in 2018. There were 358 pedestrian serious injuries in 2019, a decrease of 10.5% from 400 in 2018. In 2019, 22% of all traffic fatalies were pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, down two percentage points from 24% in 2018. Pedestrian and bicyclist serious injuries made up 24% of all traffic fatalities in 2019, down from 27% in 2018.
In 2018, there were 15 bicyclist fatalities, the same number as in 2015. There were 103 pedestrian fatalities in 2018, down by five from 108 in 2017. In 2018, there were 122 bicyclist serious injuries, an increase of 32.6% from 92 in 2017. There were 400 pedestrian serious injuries in 2018, an increase of 12% from 357 in 2017. In 2018, 24% of all traffic fatalies were pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, up one percentage point from 2017. Pedestrian and bicyclist serious injuries made up 27% of all traffic fatalities in 2018, up from 23% in 2017.
In 2017, there were 15 bicyclist fatalities, two fewer than the 17 bicyclist fatalties in 2015. There were 108 pedestrian fatalities in 2017, an increase of 19 fatalities from 89 in 2016. In 2017, there were 92 bicyclist serious injuries, a decrease of 27.6% from 127 in 2016. There were 357 pedestrian serious injuries in 2017, a decrease of 2.2% from 365 in 2016. In 2017, 23% of all traffic fatalies were pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, up one percentage point from 22% in 2016. Pedestrian and bicyclist serious injuries made up 23% of all traffic fatalities in 2017, down from 26% in 2016.