A new traffic safety analysis has found that Florida remains one of the most dangerous states in the nation for older pedestrians, ranking fourth nationally in fatality rates among residents age 65 and older.
The report, conducted by Missouri-based law firm Beck & Beck, analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) covering the years 2020 through 2024. Researchers found that Florida averaged 168 elderly pedestrian deaths each year during the five-year period, or roughly 14 fatalities every month.
When adjusted for the state’s senior population, Florida recorded 35.45 elderly pedestrian deaths per one million residents age 65 and older, placing it behind only Nevada, New Jersey and California. Arizona rounded out the nation’s top five.
Florida is home to an average of nearly 4.75 million residents age 65 and older, making it one of the nation’s largest senior populations. Researchers said that despite its size, the state’s fatality rate remains disproportionately high, highlighting ongoing safety concerns for older Floridians navigating roads and intersections.
The study found that Florida experiences an average of 0.46 elderly pedestrian deaths every day. Its fatality rate is nearly six times higher than Nebraska’s, which recorded the nation’s lowest elderly pedestrian fatality rate at just 6.07 deaths per one million senior residents. Vermont, Iowa and North Dakota also ranked among the safest states for elderly pedestrians.
Researchers also examined year-by-year trends in Florida. Elderly pedestrian fatalities increased steadily from 140 deaths in 2020 to a five-year high of 205 fatalities in 2023 before declining to 171 deaths in 2024. Although the latest figures represent an improvement, Florida still remained among the states with the highest fatality totals and rates nationwide.
The report notes that the highest-risk states tend to be densely populated Sun Belt and coastal states, where large senior populations, heavy traffic volumes and pedestrian activity may contribute to elevated risks. Nevada topped the rankings with 37.51 elderly pedestrian fatalities per one million senior residents, followed by New Jersey at 36.63 and California at 36.37. Florida’s rate of 35.45 was only slightly below California’s.
To produce the rankings, researchers examined pedestrian fatalities involving individuals age 65 and older using federal crash data from 2020 through 2024. Population estimates for each state’s elderly residents were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau, allowing researchers to calculate fatality rates on a per-capita basis rather than relying solely on raw death totals.
