Pedestrian fatalities in Alaska, 1980-1984

During 1980-1984, 94 pedestrians (15.6% of 601 total traffic-related fatalities) were killed and 1,293 were injured in Alaska. The pedestrian fatality rate for Alaskan Natives (10.95 per 100,000 population per year) was four times the rate for non-Natives (2.84 per 100,000 population per year), and in Anchorage was 13 times higher (37.98 per 100,000 per year compared to 2.89 per 100,000 per year, respectively). Alcohol use by adult pedestrians and drivers was strongly associated with pedestrian fatal events and was especially associated with Alaskan Native pedestrian fatalities (O.R. 8, 95% CI 1.95-32.78). This previously unrecognized epidemic needs to be controlled by attacking associated risk-factors and by modifying the environment to separate pedestrians from motor vehicles.