Wrong-way crashes are our focus, but they are not the only danger that grows when the days get short. One of the clearest is the risk to people walking.
As evenings get darker and more people are out shopping, walking to holiday events, or heading to and from transit, drivers and pedestrians are sharing the road in exactly the conditions where pedestrian crashes are most deadly.
Arizona's pedestrian problem
The Governors Highway Safety Association's analysis of 2024 preliminary state data ranked Arizona second-highest in the nation for pedestrian deaths per capita, at 3.60 per 100,000 residents, behind only New Mexico. Arizona was also second in 2023.
ADOT's 2024 crash facts report counted 263 pedestrians killed in Arizona that year, and 2,079 pedestrian crashes, the highest number in five years.
Darkness is the common thread
National data shows how heavily pedestrian deaths concentrate after dark. According to NHTSA's traffic safety facts on pedestrians for 2023:
- 77% of pedestrian deaths occurred in the dark.
- 84% occurred in urban areas.
- 74% occurred at locations that were not intersections.
- The highest share, 26%, happened between 6 and 8:59 p.m.
- Alcohol involvement, by the driver, the pedestrian, or both, was reported in 46% of fatal pedestrian crashes.
That 6-to-9 p.m. window is now fully dark in Phoenix. The U.S. Naval Observatory puts the November 13 sunset at 5:27 p.m.
What drivers can do
Expect people where there is no crosswalk. Most pedestrian deaths happen away from intersections. On wide Valley arterials, people cross mid-block to reach bus stops, shopping centers, and neighborhoods on the other side.
Slow down on dark stretches. At night, a pedestrian in dark clothing may not appear in your headlights until you are close. Speed decides whether there is enough room to stop.
Watch for people near stopped buses and in parking lots. Holiday shopping means more people walking between parked cars, often carrying bags and looking at their phones, too.
Be careful turning. At intersections, check the crosswalk on both sides before you turn, especially when turning right on red, when your attention is naturally on traffic coming from the left.
Keep your windshield and headlights clean. Glare and haze make it harder to pick out a person against the background.
Never drive impaired. Alcohol slows reaction and narrows attention, which is the last thing a driver needs when someone steps into the road.
What people walking can do
Be visible. Wear light colors or something reflective at night, and carry a light or use a phone flashlight.
Cross where drivers expect you, at signals and marked crosswalks when you can, even if it means a longer walk.
Assume drivers cannot see you. Make eye contact before stepping out, and do not count on a driver stopping just because you have the right of way.
Stay off freeway shoulders and ramps. If your vehicle breaks down on a freeway, getting out and walking is extremely dangerous, especially at night.
Plan a safe way home after drinking. Walking impaired is safer than driving impaired, but it still carries risk. A ride is better than either.
Holiday events change the pattern
The weeks ahead bring tree lightings, holiday markets, church services, school concerts, and parties, many of them in the evening. That puts more people on foot in places and at hours where drivers may not expect them: walking from overflow parking, crossing busy streets to reach a venue, or heading home after dark with children in tow.
If you are driving to one of these events, slow down well before you arrive and watch the edges of the road. If you are walking, stick together, use a light, and take the extra minute to cross at a signal. If you are organizing one, think about lighting, parking, and how guests will cross nearby streets.
The connection to wrong-way work
The conditions behind pedestrian deaths and wrong-way crashes are strikingly similar: darkness, high-speed roads, impairment, and drivers who do not see what is in front of them in time. The same habits protect against both. Slow down after dark, keep your attention on the road, and make sure no one drives impaired.
NMWWD is a Phoenix-based nonprofit working to prevent wrong-way crashes and make Arizona roads safer for everyone who uses them. If you would like to help, get involved or support our work.
Sources: GHSA — Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State, 2024 Preliminary Data · Arizona Department of Transportation — 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts · NHTSA — Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians, 2023 Data · U.S. Naval Observatory — Sun and Moon Data for One Day