Pedestrians

The chart below combines IRTAD data from 34 OECD member countries with available pedestrian fatality data. Total annual pedestrian fatalities across the 34 countries have steadily decreased since 2000. Notably, the 2020 figure for pedestrian deaths (14,776) was the lowest in the period 2000-2021. A slight uptick was observed in the most recent 2021 figures (15,847), but the levels recorded are still lower than 2019.

Data source: International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group (IRTAD)

There is high variance in pedestrian fatalities as a percentage of all road fatalities between different OECD countries. 

• In 2021, the percentage ranged from 6.7% for Argentina to 35.4% for Japan. 
• In the same year, pedestrian fatalities in Australia comprised a total of 11.9% of all road fatalities.

Data source: International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group (IRTAD)

Australia

National pedestrian fatalities

In Australia there has been a steady downward trend in total pedestrian fatalities: 

• Between 1995 and 2023 total annual road fatalities decreased by 36.9%. 
• In the same period, annual pedestrian fatalities decreased by 60.3% from 398 fatalities in 1995 to 158 in 2023.

Data source: Australian Road Deaths Database (ARDD)

From 1995 to 2023 there was a downward trend of pedestrian fatalities as a percentage of all road fatalities. This reduction primarily occurred between 1995 and 2004. Since 2005 pedestrian fatalities as a percentage of all road fatalities have remained relatively stable. 

Data source: Australian Road Deaths Database (ARDD)

The chart below displays road fatalities by road user type. Between 2014 and 2023: 

• Drivers were the most represented road user group in terms of fatalities, comprising 47% of all road fatalities. 
• Only cyclists had fewer fatalities than pedestrians.

Be aware that the total number of fatalities does not account for differences in exposure or participation for each road user type. Motorcyclists and passengers, for example, might be said to be at higher risk as the total deaths for this road user type exceeds their proportion in terms of license holders or VKT.

Data source: Australian Road Deaths Database (ARDD)

State and territory pedestrian fatalities

The pedestrian fatality counts for each state and territory are presented below, in 5-year aggregate periods. NSW had the highest pedestrian fatality count in both 2014-2018 and 2019-2023. Vic, SA, Tas and ACT experienced an increase in pedestrian fatalities in 2019-2023, compared with the 5 years previous. All other states experienced decreases in pedestrian fatalities over the same time period.

Data source: Australian Road Deaths Database (ARDD)

First Nations Peoples’ pedestrian fatalities

The 5-year aggregate totals for First Nations Peoples’ pedestrian fatalities have decreased from 87 in 2012-2016 to 75 in 2017-2021. This decrease has occurred mostly in the NT, where 17 fewer pedestrian road deaths occurred in the most recent 5-year period. Note that data for Vic, Tas and the ACT have been excluded from analysis, as data for individuals with a usual residence in these jurisdictions is unsuitable for comparisons of changes over time. 

First Nations Peoples' pedestrian fatality data is not available up to 2023, due to the lag in collection and compilation of the death statistics. Each death is certified by either a doctor or coroner and the resultant information is provided to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Often, complete information can only be provided following a coroner investigation. The ABS processes, codes and validates this deaths information, which is then published in statistical outputs.

Data source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Causes of Death, Australia

National pedestrian injuries

Annual pedestrian hospitalised injuries were relatively stable between 2011 and 2019. In contrast, hospitalised injuries for all traffic accidents increased between 2011 and 2016 and have remained relatively stable since. The number of pedestrian hospitalised injuries decreased significantly in 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated reduction in pedestrian activity. Pedestrian injuries in 2021 remained below long-term historical averages.

The chart below shows annual pedestrian and total hospitalised injuries from road crashes in Australia over time. The breaks in the series shown are due to small changes in admission criteria in 2012 and 2017. These changes account for approximately 3-5% differences in annual counts of injuries.

Data source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

First Nations Peoples’ pedestrian injuries

Pedestrian and total injuries for First Nations Peoples' are shown below. While pedestrian injuries have remained stable between 2011 and 2021, total hospitalised injuries for First Nations Peoples' have almost doubled over the same period, increasing 92.5% from 1,150 hospitalised injuries recorded in 2011 to 2,214 in 2021. In 2021, First Nations Peoples’ injuries made up around 6% of total recorded hospitalised injuries.

Data source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

Risk factors for pedestrians

Age

The chart below displays the distribution of pedestrian fatalities in Australia by age group for the last 5 years of available data (2019-2023). Over this period the 40-64 age group had the highest number of total pedestrian fatalities (200 deaths) and the 0-7 age group reported the lowest (27 deaths). 

In 2020, pedestrian fatalities among the 75+ age group reported a 53% decrease which may reflect the impact of COVID lockdowns across the country, and restrictions on movement especially among the older population. During the same period, deaths in young adults in the 26-39 age group rose sharply, potentially reflecting the continued pedestrian activity associated with essential travel for work.

Data source: Australian Road Deaths Database (ARDD)

The age distribution of pedestrian hospitalised injuries over the last 5 years of available data (2017-2021) is shown below. In these years, pedestrians in the 0-7 age group reported the lowest number of hospitalised injuries, and the 40-64 age group recorded the highest number. 

Data source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

Looking at fatalities and injuries together, the data indicates a trend of older pedestrians (aged 65+) making up a relatively small proportion of total hospitalised injuries, but being highly represented in road fatality counts. This may reflect that older pedestrians sometimes have ‘reduced ability to deal with complex traffic situations and slower walking speed’ (Oxley et. al., 2005). Due to increased fragility as part of the ageing process, older pedestrians are also ‘less likely to survive the trauma associated with a road crash’ than younger people (Department of Infrastructure (Victoria), 2007).

Sex

A breakdown of the number of pedestrian fatalities between 1995 and 2023 by sex is displayed in the below chart. 

• Both male and female deaths have been trending down during this period. 
• More male than female pedestrians are fatally injured each year.

Data source: Australian Road Deaths Database (ARDD)

Location 

The distribution of pedestrian fatalities by ABS remoteness area for the last 5 years of available data (2019-2023) is shown below. Major cities have consistently reported the highest number of annual pedestrian fatalities during this period, and from 2019-2023 reported 447 total pedestrian fatalities. These high fatality figures likely reflect increased pedestrian activity which is associated with urban areas.

The increase in ‘Unknown’ in 2022-2023 is mainly due to WA only providing location data annually at the end of each year. Updated location data for WA is expected to be available by the end of 2024. 

Data source: Australian Road Deaths Database (ARDD)

Speed limit

The chart below shows posted speed limit information at pedestrian fatality locations for the last 5 years of available data (2019-2023). The vast majority (over 60%) of pedestrian deaths during this period were reported to occur in 50km/h or 60 to 70km/h speed zones. Low fatality figures in higher speed zones likely reflect the reduced exposure of pedestrians on high-speed roads. 

Data source: Australian Road Deaths Database (ARDD)

Definitions

Pedestrian

Person on foot, whether stationary or moving, lying, sitting or working, including:

• in a motorised wheelchair that cannot travel more than 10 kilometres per hour 
• in or pushing a non-motorised wheelchair 
• in or on a wheeled recreational device or wheeled toy 
• riding a skateboard, in a pram, or a cart 
• excluding a person riding a pedal cycle

In some jurisdictions this category includes e-scooters.

Pedestrian fatality

A pedestrian death that occurs as a result of a road crash and within 30 days of the crash. 

Hospitalised injury

Injuries resulting in confirmed admission to hospital excluding in-hospital death from road traffic crashes. Traffic areas exclude off-road and unknown locations.

Road crash

A crash reported to police resulting from the movement of at least one road vehicle on a public road and involving death or injury to any person, or threshold property damage, that is not the result of a pre-meditated act.

About the data

Unless otherwise specified, all tables and figures use data for the whole of Australia.

Pedestrians and Road Safety(Opens in a new tab/window) published by the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) in May 2015 provided an overview of pedestrian safety in Australia, and explored possible factors impacting the safety of pedestrians in a road crash. This webpage updates some of the content from this release and can be utilised alongside the original information sheet.

Australian road fatality data was obtained from the Australian Road Deaths Database(Opens in a new tab/window) (ARDD). The ARDD provides basic details of road traffic crash fatalities in Australia as reported by the police each month to the State and Territory road safety authorities. Fatal crashes since 1989 are included and the ARDD is updated each month. The data used for this analysis is from the April 2024 database.

Hospitalised Injuries from Road Crashes(Opens in a new tab/window) data was sourced from the National Hospital Morbidity Database maintained by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 

First Nations Peoples Road Deaths in Australia(Opens in a new tab/window) were sourced from the ABS, Causes of Death, Australia publication and are published by BITRE. 

International fatality data was obtained from the IRTAD(Opens in a new tab/window) Road Safety Database which is maintained by the Joint Transport Research Centre of the OECD and the International Transport Forum.

Limitations

Road deaths from recent months are preliminary and are subject to revision. 

References

• Department of Infrastructure (Victoria), 2007, ‘Maintaining Mobility: The Transition from Driver to Non-Driver’.
• Oxley, J., Ihsen, E., Fildes, B., Charlton, J. and Day, R., 2005, ‘Crossing roads safely: An experimental study of age differences in gap selection by pedestrians’, Accident Analysis and Prevention, (37), 962-971pp.