Pedestrian safety concerns rise in California and Calgary

Recent data highlights growing concerns regarding pedestrian safety in North America. In California, an analysis by UC Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) found that pedestrian violations were the most common primary crash factor in fatal and serious-injury accidents in 2023, accounting for 48.6% of such cases. This includes actions like entering roadways suddenly or failing to yield. California recorded 1,106 pedestrian fatalities in 2023, contributing to a national total of 7,314 deaths.

In Calgary, Canada, city administration has utilized artificial intelligence to identify high-risk areas following an 11-year high of 15 pedestrian deaths in 2025. An AI platform assessed over 17,000 intersections, identifying 50 high-risk locations lacking safety measures like traffic signals or flashing beacons. Officials have recommended safety improvements for 26 of these intersections, with an estimated cost of $6 million to be considered in upcoming budget deliberations.