Washington, Jun 28 (IANS): At least 7,508 pedestrians were killed on US roadways in 2022, the highest since 1981, a new report revealed.

The report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the national organisation that represents state highway safety agencies, stated that the total number of pedestrian deaths in 2022 increased 1 per cent from the year before, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.

Pedestrian deaths went up a shocking 77 per cent between 2010 and 2021, compared to a 25 per cent increase in all other traffic fatalities, the report found.

Larger and heavier vehicles are playing an increasing role in pedestrian fatalities.

The number of pedestrians struck and killed by an SUV has surged 120 per cent since 2012, compared to a 26 per cent increase for passenger cars, according to the report.

Forty-nine states and Washington D.C. provided pedestrian fatality data for the report.

California saw the highest number of pedestrian deaths in 2022, with 1,100 killed, while New Mexico had the highest rate of pedestrian deaths in the country, with 4.40 fatalities per 100,000 people.

"Every day, 20 people go for a walk and do not return home. These are people living their daily lives -- commuting to and from school and work, picking up groceries, walking the dog, getting some exercise -- who died suddenly and violently," said GHSA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins.

"The saddest part is that these crashes are preventable. We know what works -- better-designed infrastructure, lower speeds, addressing risky driving behaviors that pose a danger to people walking," Adkins added, noting the necessity and significance to reverse the awful trend and protect people on foot.