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, those using small rideable devices such as skateboards and scooters, and those walking.
Multi-year trends
The number of bicyclist fatalities in Washington state decreased by 31.3% between 2018 and 2022, going from 16 to 11. In contrast, the number of pedestrian fatalities increased over that period, rising 32.0% from 103 in 2018 to 136 in 2022. Pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities as a percentage of all traffic fatalities decreased four percentage points between 2018 and 2022, going from 24% to 20%.
Between 2018 and 2022, the number of bicyclists with serious injuries increased 18.7%, going from 123 to 146. Over the same period, the number of pedestrian serious injuries increased 2.0% from 400 in 2018 to 408 in 2022. Pedestrian and bicyclist serious injuries as a percentage of all traffic serious injuries decreased nine percentage points between 2018 and 2022, going from 27% to 18%.
Annual highlights
In 2022, there were 11 bicyclist fatalities, down by three from 14 in 2021. There were 136 pedestrian fatalities in 2022, down by 10 from 146 in 2021. In 2022, there were 142 bicyclist serious injuries, an increase of 43.4% from 99 in 2021. There were 408 pedestrian serious injuries in 2022, a decrease of 0.5% from 410 in 2021. In 2022, 20% of all traffic fatalities were pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, down three percentage points from 23% in 2021. Pedestrian and bicyclist serious injuries made up 18% of all traffic fatalities in 2022, up from 17% in 2021.
In 2021, there were 14 bicyclist fatalities, up by one from 13 in 2020. There were 146 pedestrian fatalities in 2021, up by 36 from 110 in 2020. In 2021, there were 99 bicyclist serious injuries, an 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, an 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, an 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.