Springfield, Massachusetts, is becoming the most dangerous city for pedestrians in the US, according to the latest August 2026 report. A new study by Whitley Law Firm shows which cities have seen the biggest surge in pedestrian deaths since 2020.
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Pedestrian deaths in Springfield grew 4 times over in five years, making it one of the riskiest cities to walk in.
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In San Francisco, nearly half of all road fatalities involve someone on foot, the highest share in the country.
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1 in 5 Boston residents walks to work, yet pedestrian deaths there tripled since 2020.
The research examined US cities to find where pedestrian deaths have risen the fastest. The report tracked the number of walkers killed in traffic each year from 2020, then calculated how much that figure changed over the five years. It also looked at each city's walkability score, the share of commuters who travel on foot, and the typical speed limit on roads where fatal crashes happened. These figures were combined to show which cities have become the most dangerous for pedestrians over time.
Here's a look at the 10 cities where pedestrian fatalities have risen the fastest:
|
City
|
Walkability Score
|
Share of Commuters Who Walk to Work (%)
|
Total Traffic Fatalities 2020-2024 Combined
|
Pedestrian Fatalities 2020-2024 Combined
|
Pedestrian Fatalities as a Share of Total
|
Change in Pedestrian Fatalities
|
Speed Limit Where Deaths Happened 2024 (mph, median)
|
|
Springfield
|
39
|
3.90%
|
93
|
25
|
26.88%
|
300%
|
35
|
|
Boston
|
83
|
17.10%
|
116
|
42
|
36.21%
|
200%
|
25
|
|
Eugene
|
46
|
6.90%
|
56
|
24
|
42.86%
|
200%
|
45
|
|
New Orleans
|
58
|
6.70%
|
312
|
110
|
35.26%
|
170%
|
35
|
|
Buffalo
|
67
|
5.10%
|
104
|
28
|
26.92%
|
133%
|
30
|
|
Honolulu
|
66
|
8.90%
|
88
|
35
|
39.77%
|
125%
|
25
|
|
San Francisco
|
89
|
13.60%
|
189
|
89
|
47.09%
|
108%
|
25
|
|
Norfolk
|
46
|
5.50%
|
111
|
32
|
28.83%
|
100%
|
30
|
|
Washington
|
98
|
14.10%
|
200
|
76
|
38.00%
|
80%
|
25
|
|
Pittsburgh
|
62
|
12.40%
|
111
|
27
|
24.32%
|
75%
|
25
|
You can access the complete research findings here.
1. Springfield, Massachusetts
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Walkability score: 39
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Walk-to-work share: 3.9%
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Total pedestrian deaths (2020-2024): 25
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Pedestrian share of all traffic deaths: 26.9%
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Change in pedestrian fatalities: +300%
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Median speed limit at fatal crash sites (2024): 35 mph
Springfield is seeing the fastest increase in pedestrian deaths. The number of walkers killed in road accidents has surged 300% in five years here. That figure is worth putting in context, as Springfield scores just 39 out of 100 for walkability, meaning relatively few people walk its streets to begin with. Most crashes here also happen on roads with 35 mph speed limits, where collisions with pedestrians are far more likely to be fatal.
2. Boston, Massachusetts
Boston ranks second, with pedestrian deaths tripling since 2020. The city is perfectly walkable, and 17% of its residents commute on foot, the highest rate of any city. However, Boston recorded 42 pedestrian deaths over the five-year window, which could be alarming with so many people on the streets daily. Most fatal crashes here tend to happen on 25 mph roads, which indicates that even slower urban streets aren't keeping walkers safe.
3. Eugene, Oregon
Eugene also recorded a 200% increase in pedestrian fatalities over the study period. The Oregon college city has an active walking culture, as nearly 7% of residents travel to work and university on foot. But with 24 pedestrian deaths since 2020, being a passerby in Eugene isn’t safe at all. Crashes here also tend to happen at much higher speeds than in Boston (45 mph), leaving many pedestrians with serious injuries even if they survive the accident.
4. New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans comes next on the list, with pedestrian fatalities rising 170%. The city records some of the highest death tolls over the past five years, with 110 victims, more than towns twice its size. Roughly 35% of all traffic deaths in New Orleans also involve people on foot, a higher share compared to many other cities. Crashes here typically happen on 35 mph corridors, where speed is high enough to make survival unlikely.
5. Buffalo, New York
Buffalo rounds out the top five, with pedestrian fatalities climbing 133%. The city has a walkability score of 67/100, yet this hasn't translated into safer streets for people on foot. While only about 5% of commuters walk to work, that group faces growing danger, with pedestrians now accounting for roughly 27% of all traffic deaths in the city. Fatal crashes in Buffalo mostly occur on roads averaging 30 mph, and at that speed, the risks of a deadly outcome are higher.
Robert E. Whitley from Whitley Law commented on the findings:
“As an attorney, I would also like to highlight that nearly two-thirds of pedestrian deaths occur in locations without sidewalks. In those cases, the city's failure to provide basic infrastructure becomes a legitimate legal question. When a dangerous roadway has been documented, and the responsible government entity failed to address known safety problems, that history can be an important factor in determining whether the municipality may be legally liable. So if you or someone you know has been affected, it's worth knowing that legal options may be available beyond just the driver."
