A grocery store can be three blocks away and still feel uncomfortably far if reaching it means crossing six lanes of traffic. For older pedestrians, that everyday calculation can become a safety concern, especially in communities built around moving cars rather than helping people cross streets safely.
The latest state rankings from Smart Growth America’s Dangerous by Design 2026 report identify the places with the highest pedestrian fatality rates. The report examines deaths from 2020 through 2024 and adjusts its rankings for population, rather than simply counting fatalities. Although it does not rank states specifically by deaths among older pedestrians, its findings highlight places where the overall danger to people walking deserves attention.
