A newly released study finds South Carolina ranks high for pedestrian deaths.
According to a Dangerous By Design report from Smart Growth America, South Carolina ranks fourth in the nation for pedestrian deaths. The data found that 893 people died in the state between 2020 and 2024. The long-term trend in fatalities increased 0.38%.
Charleston County ranked high on the metro scale, coming at number 12 in the country. The report says over 150 of the nearly 900 deaths from 2020-2024 happened in Charleston.
Even though South Carolina and Charleston's rankings improved slightly from previous years, the change doesn't indicate improvements in safety.
The report finds other areas just got worse.
"Our leaders are celebrating small improvements from historic deaths as some major victory, while thousands of people continue to be hit and killed while walking every year," said Beth Osborne, President and CEO of Smart Growth America. “If we were any other country, this would be treated as a national crisis. Instead, our leaders are quick to accept these deaths as a necessary aspect of our transportation system.”
The report also explores racial disparities when it comes to pedestrian deaths. Indigenous people continue to experience the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the country, at 3.7 times the national average. Black Americans are killed while walking at 1.7 times the national average.
39,254 people died while walking in 2024.
Read more on the report online.
