Just as the U.S Department of Transportation (USDOT) has been actively writing out pedestrian and bicycle safety infrastructure from official guidelines and grant programs, the 2026 Dangerous by Design report by Smart Growth America (SGA) and the National Complete Streets Coalition (NCSC) revealed that the number of pedestrian fatalities is significantly higher than barely two decades ago.

 
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a report in April of this year revealing that 39,254 people died in 2024 due to motor vehicle traffic-related incidents - 7,080 of them (18%) were pedestrians. The administration's announcement highlighted that the number of fatalities and injuries have gone down slightly in the past two years. Even so, SGA's report shows that this decline is minor compared to the 72% increase in pedestrian deaths in the 15-year period between 2009 and 2024. The report further reveals that 3,609 (57%) of pedestrian fatalities in 2024 occurred on state-owned roads.

SGA points out that roads that are "slightly less deadly [are] not the same thing as safe." With common design elements like wide, straight lanes, long crosswalks, and intersections that are infrequent or non-signalized, the organization shows that the majority of America's roads are "built to prioritize the speed and convenience of cars." Instead of blaming drivers or pedestrians, the report points out that drivers behave based on the infrastructure they are given.

Recommendations include shorter crosswalks, expanded pedestrian space, and street trees - all elements the ASLA points out are the specialty of Landscape Architects. As a founding member of the NCSC, ASLA encouraged members to advocate for "policies and funding that prioritize Complete Streets and incorporate design solutions that protect all roadway users."

To see the full report, go to: https://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/signature-reports/dangerous-by-design/

As seen in LASN magazine, September 2026.