The NHTSA announced the availability of $2 million in pedestrian safety grants for 22 cities in an effort to reverse the trend of rising fatal incidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the availability of $2 million in pedestrian safety grants for 22 cities that have a higher pedestrian fatality count.

According to NHTSA, 4,432 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in 2011. That number represents an 8 percent increase from 2009. NHTSA also said that 75 percent of those pedestrian deaths occurred in urban areas while 70 percent of all pedestrian deaths occurred at intersections. Those deaths often were determined by other factors, as 70 percent of fatalities occurred at night and "many" involved alcohol.