Phoenix's Pedestrian Death Crisis — Why Our Streets Are Killing Walkers

Phoenix consistently ranks among the most dangerous major cities in America for pedestrians. The numbers are staggering — and our analysis of federal and local crash data helps explain why.

The Scope of the Problem

Maricopa County recorded 4,054 traffic deaths between 2015 and 2022. A disproportionate number of those victims were pedestrians. Nationally, pedestrian deaths have increased by over 50% since 2010. In Phoenix, the problem is even worse — driven by a road system that was designed almost exclusively for cars.

Where Pedestrians Are Dying

Our data identifies the deadliest surface streets in Phoenix — and they’re the same streets where pedestrian fatalities concentrate. Indian School Road, McDowell Road, Van Buren Street, Thomas Road, and the north-south avenues in West Phoenix are killing zones for people on foot.

These roads share common features: 5 to 7 lanes of high-speed traffic, crossing distances of 80 to 100+ feet, long stretches between marked crosswalks — sometimes half a mile or more, speed limits of 40-45 mph (with actual speeds often higher), and minimal or no sidewalks in some segments.

Why Phoenix Is Different

Most major cities with high pedestrian death rates are dense, older cities where cars and pedestrians compete for limited space. Phoenix is different — it’s a sprawling, car-centric city where the road design actively discourages walking while simultaneously forcing some residents to walk along or across dangerous arterials because they have no alternative.

The West Phoenix corridor exemplifies this perfectly. Limited transit options mean residents must walk to bus stops along roads that have no sidewalks, crossing arterials that are designed like highways.

Arizona Law Protects Pedestrians — Mostly

Under A.R.S. § 28-792, drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and at intersections. But even pedestrians who are jaywalking or crossing outside a crosswalk have legal protections. Under Arizona’s comparative fault system, a pedestrian who was partially at fault can still recover damages — reduced by their share of fault but not eliminated.

What Needs to Change

The road design itself is a factor in many of these deaths. When a road is designed in a way that makes fatal pedestrian crashes predictable and recurring, the government entity responsible for that road may bear liability. The Law Badgers evaluate road design factors in every pedestrian accident case we handle.

If you or a loved one was hit by a car while walking in Phoenix, call us at (833) DTF-IGHT.