MODESTO—As reported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in July 2025, 7,314 pedestrians died from motor vehicle crashes across the United States in 2023. Since 2009, the year with the lowest pedestrian crash fatalities, deaths have increased by 78% overall. In Modesto, California, a high number of pedestrian injury and fatality incidents are common. In 2023, the city saw 110 pedestrian accidents resulting in 8 deaths. In this guide, we outline many of the dangers to the health and safety of these vulnerable road users and methods to reduce the risks.
Daily Dangers for Pedestrians
A simple online search immediately reveals that Modesto, CA, has a massive pedestrian road safety problem. Over the years, Modesto has ranked as one of the worst cities in the state for protecting pedestrians. In 2025 so far, news reports of pedestrian accidents in the city and the surrounding metro, which contain more than half a million people, have happened on a near-weekly and sometimes daily basis. Many of these incidents were entirely preventable.
Common dangers to pedestrians include the day of the week, time of day, month of the year, traffic conditions, lighting, and risky driver behaviors. In 2023, for example, 75% of nationwide pedestrian fatalities occurred over a 12-hour, low-visibility period starting at approximately 6 p.m. at night. Deaths also happened more often on weekends when people usually travel more to relax or party.
Bad traffic conditions typically cause the highest number of deaths from September to January. For example, road congestion worsens during these months because of active school semesters and holiday vacations. Additionally, daylight doesn’t last as long. The days grow shorter with the end of Daylight-Saving Time. Many incidents also occur because of the actions of drunk and speeding drivers.
Why Is Modesto So Dangerous?
In 2023, 84% of all nationwide pedestrian deaths occurred in urban settings. Modesto has a mix of urban and suburban environments where pedestrians, bicyclists and others commonly use sidewalks, bike paths, shoulders and other road areas close to motor vehicle traffic. A lack of protection and separation for pedestrians from other traffic usually causes problems in these areas. Many zones also don’t have sidewalks or traffic markings, which results in both drivers and pedestrians failing to follow appropriate rules at corners, intersections and crosswalks.
As noted by the California Highway Patrol, Modesto’s metro and Stanislaus County have become well known for having several of the “most dangerous” statewide two-lane highways. Common reasons for crashes with and without pedestrians include higher-than-normal traffic congestion caused by a rapid increase in residential, business and visitor traffic in recent years and risk-taking actions by drivers and vulnerable road users.
How Can Modesto Improve Safety?
Infrastructure and traffic experts have recommended a wide range of solutions to help Modesto protect pedestrians from harm, such as the placement of barriers between pedestrian walkways and traffic and the installation of more sidewalks, bridge overpasses and tunnel underpasses. They’ve also recommended upgrade projects to increase the number of illuminated areas, painted road markings and street signs.
Modesto officials have taken other actions as well. They have promoted traffic awareness campaigns that remind drivers and pedestrians to behave responsibly and follow all required rules and regulations. In April 2025, for example, they promoted the “Let Kids Cross” campaign that focused on reminding drivers to slow down below 40 mph in high pedestrian traffic areas and stop completely at required spots like crosswalks and corners. Modesto officials also approved the installation of a new High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) beacon system. Unlike normal crosswalk systems, HAWK alerts drivers when a pedestrian pushes a crosswalk button and then shows them when to stop their vehicles.
