When and where most pedestrian accidents occur is in cities, in streets outside of intersections, and at night. Other areas where these accidents are more likely include parking lots and on private property, such as in driveways.

The definition of a pedestrian accident is an accident that happens when a motor vehicle hits a person who is not in a motor vehicle.

Traffic safety data from the NHTSA consistently shows that about 75 percent of all pedestrian fatalities occur on sections of a road or street without intersections, suggesting intersections are the safest point to cross a road.

One of the most significant contributors to traffic accidents where pedestrian deaths occur is driving while impaired on drugs or alcohol. According to the CDC, 17% of accidents that resulted in the death of a pedestrian involved a driver with a blood alcohol content of over 0.08g/dl, the legal limit in all 50 states.