Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

Updated January 2011

Many people engage in walking, running and bicycling to maintain physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle. For many pedestrians and bicyclists, safety is a major concern. During 2008, 4,378 pedestrians were killed and 69,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes. During the past decade, pedestrian fatalities have declined by 13 percent. This decrease can be attributed to pedestrian-area safety improvements as well as to state laws. In 2010, more than 35 pedestrian safety bills were considered by state legislatures.

Walking to School

Hundreds of children are killed and thousands more are injured each year as they walk to school. In an effort to keep child pedestrians safe, many communities have turned to “Safe Routes to Schools” programs. These programs encourage parents, teachers, students, community leaders, state and local governments, and law enforcement agencies to work together to identify and establish safe pedestrian and bicycle routes to and from schools. The programs examine current traffic laws, speed limits, law enforcement and education programs and make changes where necessary. The ultimate goal of these programs is to increase walking and biking while maintaining safety.
California, Florida and New Mexico are a few states that have passed legislation to formally create “Safe Routes to Schools” programs. The legislation establishes guidelines for the program and funding sources. The New Mexico Legislature enacted a “Safe Routes to Schools” bill that requires the state Department of Transportation to “ … work with state pedestrian and bicycle coordinators, school districts, parents, teachers, students and law enforcement agencies to develop innovative programs and initiatives to create safe routes to schools.”

For more information see NCSL’s Safe Routes To Schools page.

Bicycle Safety

State legislatures have played a key role in reducing the number of bicyclist fatalities and injuries. During the last decade, the number of bicycle fatalities has decreased by almost 10 percent. In 2009, 716 bicyclists were killed and an additional 52,000 were injured in traffic crashes. One age group that is especially affected by bicycle safety is children. Bicycles are responsible for more injuries to children than any other product besides the car, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. The rate of bicycle-related injuries in highest for children between the ages of 5 and 15. Thousands of children are treated in emergency rooms for bicycle injuries each year.

One of the most effective ways to protect bicyclists from fatalities and injuries is through helmet use. Helmets are 85 percent to 88 percent effective in reducing head and brain injuries in all types of bicycle crashes. The American Association of Pediatrics recommends that all cyclists wear helmets. Despite the proven success of helmets, only 25 percent of riders wear protective headgear. Mandatory helmet laws have been shown to increase helmet use and decrease fatalities and injuries. Most helmet laws are geared toward specific age groups. After a helmet use law was passed in New York, the annual rate of hospitalization for bicycle-related traumatic head injuries decreased by more than half.
During the 2003 legislative sessions, 10 states considered bills relating to helmet use for bicyclists. The New Mexico Legislature passed a bill that will require the state Department of Health to study the costs and benefits of passing legislation to require minors to wear helmets while participating in snow sports, riding motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles or bicycles.

State Laws Requiring Use of Bike Helmets - 2010 

 Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2010; National Conference of State Legislatures, 2010

Publications

• Encouraging Bicycling and Walking: The State Legislative Role
• "Traffic Safety and Public Health: State Legislative Action 2010," Transportation Series, No. 35, December 2010, by Melissa Savage and Anne Teigen.
• "Traffic Safety and Public Health: State Legislative Action 2009,"  Transportation Series, No. 34, February 2010, by Melissa Savage, Anne Teigen and Nicholas Farber.

Other Resources

• NCSL/NHTSA Traffic Safety Legislation Database
• NCSL Healthy Community Design 
• NHTSA 
• Walking Information 
• Bicycling Information 
• FHWA 
• NHTSA Resource Guide on State Laws relating to Pedestrian and Bicycling Issues.