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Pedestrians remain one of the most vulnerable groups on Spanish roads and in the Region of Murcia the figures are especially sobering. Almost two out of every ten people killed in a traffic accident here over the past decade were walking at the time, according to a new study by the Línea Directa Foundation.

 

The report, Walking Safely. Accident Rate and Risks of Pedestrians in Spain, examined accident data from 2014 to 2023. It reveals that 19.8% of fatal accidents in the Region involved pedestrians, only slightly below the national average of 20.4%.

 

Across Spain, as many as 3,500 pedestrians lost their lives and a further 17,000 were hospitalised over the ten-year period.

 

“This is one of the most vulnerable and fragile groups,” warned Mar Garre, general director of the Línea Directa Foundation.

 

The study shows that the mortality rate among pedestrians rose by 5% during the last decade. While the organisation only has complete accident data for urban areas in 2023, it did note an encouraging fall of 8% last year.

 

The foundation stressed that these figures should not be interpreted as an attempt to hold pedestrians responsible. In fact, in 72% of accidents involving a pedestrian, the person on foot had not committed any violation.

 

Even so, the report points out that 41% of pedestrians killed in the last decade had tested positive for alcohol, drugs or medication. Alarmingly, that figure rose to 58% in 2023 alone.

 

Men are more than twice as likely to die as women, with men more often struck on highways while women are more commonly victims in cities. The average age of a pedestrian killed in an accident is 45, although those over 65 suffer a fatality rate double the national average.

 

Most incidents involve passenger vehicles, which account for 72% of pedestrian deaths, and they occur more frequently on weekdays, during daylight hours, and particularly in the final months of the year between October and December.

 

The report also raises concerns about the rise of the “technological pedestrian.” Young people between 18 and 25 who walk while using mobile phones or headphones are at greater risk because these devices reduce both hearing and peripheral vision, slowing down reaction times.

 

The majority of pedestrian accidents happen in cities. Some 86% occur in urban areas and 14% on highways. However, the foundation highlights the worrying fact that accidents on highways are eight times more likely to be fatal due to the higher speeds involved. In cities, meanwhile, pedestrian accidents are the single deadliest type of crash, representing 42% of all urban fatalities.

 

Amid the stark statistics, there is at least some good news for the current year. Road deaths in Spain fell again during the peak summer months of July and August 2025. Nationwide, 228 people lost their lives in traffic accidents, 6% fewer than in the same period of 2024.

 

The Region of Murcia recorded one of the most dramatic improvements. Fatalities dropped from 13 last summer to just 4 in 2025, a reduction of nearly 70%. Only the Valencian Community registered a comparable fall, with deaths reduced by more than half from 27 to 13.

 

By contrast, Andalucía was the hardest hit with 47 fatalities, making up more than a fifth of the national total, followed by Castilla y León with 32.

 

 

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