Key Risk Factors for Pedestrians at Intersections
High Traffic Volume: More vehicles passing through increases collision opportunities. Pedestrians may misjudge when it's safe to cross if cars are numerous or moving in waves.
Poor Visibility: Dim lighting, obstructions like parked trucks or signage, and awkward intersection geometry reduce reaction time for both pedestrians and drivers.
Lack of Infrastructure: Missing or faded crosswalks, no pedestrian signals, inadequate sidewalks, and poor curb ramp design force unsafe crossings.
High Vehicle Speeds: Faster-moving vehicles dramatically raise the risk of severe injury or death.
Dangerous Driver Behavior: Red-light running, illegal turns, and distractions account for many intersection conflicts.
Key Risk Factors for Cyclists at Intersections
No Dedicated Bike Infrastructure: Without bike lanes or protected paths, cyclists are left sharing lanes with cars—often in drivers' blind spots.
Visibility Issues: Large vehicles turning, dense traffic, or low-light conditions make cyclists hard to see.
High Speeds: As with pedestrians, faster vehicle speeds cut reaction time and raise crash severity.
Turning Vehicle Conflicts: Left and right turns often create collision points where drivers overlook approaching cyclists.
Driver Behavior: Distraction, failure to yield, and aggressive maneuvers put cyclists at risk.
Shared Hazards in Intersections
When pedestrians and cyclists are both present, the intersection becomes a hotbed for risk. Crashes can result from multiple compounding factors—high volumes of traffic, poor design, inadequate signaling, and unsafe driver behavior.
How Infrastructure Can Make Intersections Safer
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Raised Crosswalks and Speed Humps: Slow vehicle approaches and increase pedestrian visibility.
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Bike Lanes and Protected Intersections: Reduce vehicle-bike interaction.
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Leading Pedestrian Intervals: Give walkers a head-start before cars get the green light.
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Curb Extensions and Refuge Islands: Shorten crossing distances and provide safe waiting zones.
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Improved Lighting and Visibility: Make all users more visible—especially at night.
Enforcement and Behavior Change
Strong laws against red-light violations, speeding, and distracted driving—paired with enforcement and awareness campaigns—can shift behavior and reduce crash rates. Vision Zero initiatives and targeted education also help change norms around yielding to vulnerable users.
State-by-State & City-by-City Comparison: Pedestrian Fatality Rates
| Location | Metric | Value / Rate | Notes & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (overall) | Pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 (2023 avg) | ~2.18 | About one-quarter of these happen at intersections (NHTSA) |
| California (statewide) | % of fatalities at intersections | ~27% | Urban intersections remain hotspots (SafeTREC) |
| Memphis, TN | Pedestrian deaths per 100k | 8.9 | One of the highest city rates |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Pedestrian deaths per 100k | 8.6 | Ranked near top nationally |
| Macon, GA | Pedestrian deaths per 100k | 7.7 | Intersection risks concentrated downtown |
| Little Rock, AR | Pedestrian deaths per 100k | 7.5 | Smaller city but high fatality ratio |
| Jackson, MS | Pedestrian deaths per 100k | 7.4 | High risk despite smaller population |
| New Mexico (statewide) | Pedestrian fatality rate per 100k | ~4.8 | Among the highest state averages |
| Florida (statewide) | Pedestrian fatality rate per 100k | ~3.75 | One of the most dangerous states |
| South Carolina (statewide) | Pedestrian fatality rate per 100k | ~3.66 | Safety gaps remain at busy crossings |
| Arizona (statewide) | Pedestrian fatality rate per 100k | ~3.41 | Growing metro areas amplify risk |
State-by-State & City-by-City Comparison: Cyclist Fatality Rates
| Location | Metric | Value / Rate | Notes & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (overall) | Cyclist fatalities per 100,000 (2023 avg) | ~0.26 | National average shows steady increase over the past decade |
| Florida (statewide) | Cyclist fatalities per 100,000 | ~0.75 | Consistently the most dangerous state for cyclists |
| Louisiana (statewide) | Cyclist fatalities per 100,000 | ~0.62 | Elevated crash rates in both urban and rural areas |
| New Mexico (statewide) | Cyclist fatalities per 100,000 | ~0.57 | Among the top three most dangerous states for cycling |
| California (statewide) | Cyclist fatalities per 100,000 | ~0.38 | Large population, high absolute number of cyclist deaths |
| Arizona (statewide) | Cyclist fatalities per 100,000 | ~0.36 | High rates in Phoenix and Tucson metro corridors |
| Tucson, AZ | Cyclist fatalities per 100,000 | ~1.0 | One of the highest urban cyclist fatality rates |
| Jacksonville, FL | Cyclist fatalities per 100,000 | ~0.9 | Known for wide, high-speed arterial roads |
| Los Angeles, CA | Cyclist fatalities per 100,000 | ~0.4 | High volume of bike commuters, but vulnerable intersections |
What the Tables Reveal
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City extremes: Memphis and Fort Lauderdale stand out for pedestrian deaths, while Tucson and Jacksonville top the list for cyclist risks.
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State-level risk: Florida and New Mexico consistently appear in both tables, highlighting systemic challenges for both walkers and cyclists.
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Intersections as hotspots: A significant share of fatalities for both groups occur at or near intersections, showing these locations are the most critical for safety improvements.
What This Means for Safety Planning
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Target High-Risk Areas: Cities and states with high death rates should prioritize intersection redesigns, speed control, and protected lanes.
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Data-Driven Interventions: Collecting and applying crash data can focus resources on the most dangerous crossings.
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Balanced Approach: Improvements must address both pedestrians and cyclists since both groups share similar vulnerabilities.
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Statewide Policies: States with recurring high-risk stats need stronger legislation around speed, lighting, and crosswalk design.
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Public Education: Campaigns aimed at both drivers and vulnerable road users can reduce conflict at intersections.
Conclusion
Intersections remain one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians and cyclists. The challenges—ranging from high speeds and traffic volume to poor infrastructure and risky behaviors—combine to create frequent, harmful conflicts. The supporting tables clarify that in many U.S. states and cities, both pedestrian and cyclist fatality rates are significantly higher than the national average, with intersections consistently at the center of danger. The good news is that solutions exist. By redesigning intersections with better infrastructure, enforcing safer driver behavior, and educating the public, communities can dramatically reduce the risks and make these shared spaces safer for everyone.