Jacksonville is 2nd-deadliest U.S. city for pedestrians, new study says

Summary:
A 2025 analysis of 36 major U.S. cities highlights which areas are safest and most dangerous for pedestrians. Cities with better walkability, lower pedestrian fatalities, and pedestrian-focused design rank higher, while car-dependent cities, especially in the South and Southwest, have higher fatality rates. Safety requires both infrastructure and responsible behavior from drivers and pedestrians.

What makes walking safer in some cities than others? Sometimes it comes down to the basics—clearly marked crosswalks, lower speed limits, or better lighting. Other times, it’s about how cities prioritize people on foot in environments designed primarily for cars.

Whether you're walking the dog, catching the bus, trick-or-treating, or heading to the grocery store, pedestrian safety shapes nearly every part of daily life. And while better walks start with supportive shoes and happy feet, walking only works when it’s safe to do so.

That’s why we analyzed the latest pedestrian fatality data and Walk Scores for 36 major U.S. cities to find out which ones are getting it right—and which have room to improve.

Let’s take a closer look.

The Safest U.S. Cities for Pedestrians in 2025

As more cities rethink how people move through urban spaces, some are already ahead of the curve. These 10 metro areas are leading the way in pedestrian safety, thanks to better design, fewer fatalities, and more walkable neighborhoods.

Zooming out, a few patterns emerge. The Northeast leads the way with cities like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, all combining relatively low rates of pedestrian deaths with strong walkability.

Milwaukee quietly claims the lowest pedestrian fatality rate overall, at just 0.93 deaths per 100,000 people. Meanwhile, Nashville, Louisville, and Washington, D.C. achieved the highest Walk Scores (96+) among the top 10, which is proof that strong infrastructure can help offset higher fatality rates when paired with pedestrian-focused planning.

This mix shows that while a high Walk Score helps, it's only part of the equation. Safe urban design, effective policy enforcement, and pedestrian-first planning matter just as much.

The Most Dangerous U.S. Cities for Pedestrians in 2025

Next, we turn to the cities where walking is most dangerous. When infrastructure prioritizes cars over people, the results can be deadly.

The 10 cities listed below had the highest pedestrian fatality rates this year, serving as a reminder that walkability isn’t just a convenience but also a matter of safety.

Cities in the South and Southwest dominate the list of the most dangerous places for pedestrians. Among all cities analyzed, Albuquerque saw the highest rate of fatal pedestrian accidents in 2025 (4.68 per 100,000 people), which is more than three times higher than the city with the lowest rate.

Arizona alone has three cities ranked among the 10 most dangerous (Phoenix, Mesa, and Tucson), and Texas follows closely behind with San Antonio and Fort Worth. The pattern is clear: many of the deadliest cities for pedestrians are in regions built for cars, not people on foot.

Low walkability is another common theme. According to WalkScore’s methodology, every city in the bottom 10 falls into the “car-dependent” category, meaning almost all errands require a car.

Cities like Jacksonville, Charlotte, and Albuquerque have the lowest WalkScores among big cities (just 26 out of 100), while even the most walkable cities on the list—like Tucson and Las Vegas—only rank as “somewhat walkable.”

The takeaway? When cities lack safe, accessible spaces for pedestrians, fatality rates go up.

Complete Rankings: The Safest and Most Dangerous U.S. Cities for Pedestrians in 2025

From coast to coast, walking conditions can look very different. See how all 36 of America’s largest cities (those with populations of at least 500,000 as of 2022) ranked for pedestrian safety this year. Where does yours land on the list?

Safety Tips for Sharing the Road

No matter where you live, pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. Whether you’re behind the wheel or on foot, a few simple habits can help prevent serious accidents.

Below are key safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to help keep everyone safer this year.

Driving Safety Tips:

• Look out for pedestrians everywhere. Always be aware of your surroundings, especially at intersections, near crosswalks, or in neighborhoods where people are likely to be walking.
• Slow down and prepare to stop at crosswalks. Use extra caution when turning or approaching marked crossings. Come to a full stop and allow others to do the same.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. It may be stopping for someone you can’t see.
• Follow the speed limit, especially in school zones and neighborhoods. Speeding reduces your ability to stop quickly and increases the severity of a crash if one happens.

Walking Safety Tips:

• Use sidewalks whenever available. If there’s no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and stay as far from moving vehicles as possible.
• Cross at crosswalks or intersections. Always look left, right, and left again, and be extra alert for cars turning in either direction.
• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways. Stay alert in parking lots and residential areas, where vehicles may be backing up or pulling out unexpectedly.
• Follow the rules of the road. Obey signs and signals, and always assume drivers may not see you.

Methodology and Sources

To create our 2025 rankings, we analyzed metro areas with populations over 500,000 as of 2022.

We used the latest pedestrian fatality data from the Governors Highway Safety Association’s 2023 preliminary report and paired it with each city’s Walk Score—a metric that reflects walkability based on access to amenities, population density, and street design.

Cities were scored out of 50 for fatality rates and out of 50 for walkability. These were combined into a total pedestrian safety score out of 100.

We also included safety tips based on guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

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Key Points:

• Safest cities: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Milwaukee; Milwaukee has the lowest pedestrian fatality rate at 0.93 deaths per 100,000.
• Most dangerous cities: Albuquerque (highest at 4.68 deaths per 100,000), Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson; low walkability is a common factor.
• Northeast cities lead in pedestrian safety due to design, policies, and walkability.
• Walk Score is important but must be combined with safe urban planning to reduce fatalities.
• Pedestrian safety tips: use sidewalks, cross at crosswalks, stay alert, obey traffic signals, drivers should slow down, watch for pedestrians, and never pass stopped vehicles at crosswalks.
• Data based on pedestrian fatality rates from Governors Highway Safety Association and Walk Scores for cities with populations over 500,000.