Tucson Ranks Among Deadliest U.S. Cities For Pedestrians, Report Finds

TUCSON, AZ — Tucson is still one of the most dangerous cities in the country for pedestrians, according to a new national report that tracked 235 walking deaths in the metro area from 2020 to 2024.

The 2026 Dangerous by Design report, released in June by Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition, ranks Tucson fourth among the deadliest U.S. metro areas for pedestrians

. That is an improvement from third in the group’s 2024 report, but the city’s roads did not get safer. Tucson recorded 18 more pedestrian deaths in the 2020-2024 period than in the previous five-year window.

Nationally, pedestrian deaths are up 72% over the past 15 years, the report found. Arizona ranked third among the most dangerous states for pedestrians, with a fatality rate of 3.49 per 100,000 residents.

The findings come as Tucson moves to address the crisis. The City Council voted unanimously earlier this year to lower speed limits on several major corridors citywide after transportation officials reviewed speed limits, land use and roadway conditions.

Ward 6 Council Member Miranda Schubert has also highlighted the toll of traffic violence in Tucson. Based on fatalities she has tracked, she said pedestrian deaths in the city are up nearly 300% so far this year compared with the same period in 2025, though she noted her numbers do not capture the full scope of the problem.

The report uses five-year windows to measure long-term trends rather than single-year snapshots, which researchers say gives a clearer picture of whether conditions are improving. By that measure, Tucson’s streets remain deadlier than they were a decade ago.