[Study] The Most Dangerous Places for Pedestrians in Clark County

Las Vegas is one of the largest tourist destinations in the United States, with an estimated 42 million annual visitors each year. This extraordinary influx creates a unique urban environment where tourists, often unfamiliar with local traffic patterns, navigate alongside more than 2.3 million Clark County residents across a rapidly evolving cityscape.

This convergence of populations occurs within a transportation infrastructure primarily designed for vehicular traffic, with wide roadways, high speed limits, and significant distances between crosswalks in many areas. The 24-hour nature of Las Vegas further compounds these risks, with pedestrian activity continuing through nighttime hours when visibility is reduced and impaired driving incidents increase.

To better understand these risks, we conducted a comprehensive analysis examining seven years of Clark County crash data from the Nevada Department of Transportation.

Key Findings

During the seven-year observation period, Clark County experienced more than 5,600 pedestrian collisions—a staggering average of over 800 incidents annually. The severity of these crashes is particularly alarming:

• 80% of pedestrian collisions resulted in at least one injury
• 413 crashes resulted in pedestrian fatalities
• 25% of all incidents were hit-and-run collisions

Our analysis revealed distinct patterns that differentiate pedestrian crashes from other collision types:

Pedestrian collisions showed a pronounced tendency to occur during nighttime hours:

• 44% of pedestrian crashes occurred in darkness
• Only 28% of other crash types occurred in darkness

The presence of alcohol dramatically increased the lethality of pedestrian collisions:

• Pedestrian crashes involving alcohol were 3.5 times more likely to result in pedestrian fatalities
• Alcohol-related crashes were particularly concentrated in tourist-heavy areas

We believe that the findings presented here offer vital insights for tourists planning visits, residents navigating daily routes, urban planners considering infrastructure improvements, and public officials responsible for enhancing pedestrian safety across the Las Vegas Valley.

[Interactive Map] The Most Dangerous Areas for Las Vegas Area Pedestrians

Our study identified fifteen high-risk zones where pedestrians face the greatest danger of being struck by motor vehicles throughout Clark County. By mapping collision patterns, severity outcomes, and contributing factors.

The map below displays the most dangerous places for Las Vegas pedestrians.

Some of these zones encompassed larger areas, such as the two on the Las Vegas Strip and the UNLV area, while others are confined to one or two intersections. Below, we list all 15 zones, along with collision, injury, and fatality data for each.

The Top 15 Pedestrian Collision Zones in Clark County

A Closer Look at the Five Highest Collision Pedestrian Zones

While we identified 15 areas of concern, the top five experienced a much higher volume of pedestrian collisions than the others. In the following sections, we take a closer look at those five zones.

#1: University of Nevada, Las Vegas Area: 203 Pedestrian Crashes

The area surrounding the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) represents the highest concentration of pedestrian collisions in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Centered on the intersection of Flamingo Road and Paradise Road, this zone experiences significant pedestrian traffic due to the university’s 30,000+ student population, nearby resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, and commercial developments serving both communities.

The UNLV area has recorded:

• 203 total pedestrian crashes
• 177 crashes resulting in injuries (87% injury rate)
• 10 fatal crashes (4.9% fatality rate)

Critical Intersections

Two intersections within this zone demonstrate particularly concerning collision patterns:

Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway

This intersection serves as a major access point to UNLV’s main campus and experiences heavy foot traffic from students moving between campus, residential areas, and commercial establishments.

• 55 total pedestrian crashes
• 54 crashes with injuries (98% injury rate)

Paradise Road and Harmon Avenue

Located between UNLV and the Las Vegas Strip, this intersection connects residential areas with entertainment venues and experiences high volumes of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

• 33 total pedestrian crashes
• 28 crashes with injuries (85% injury rate)

#2: Downtown Las Vegas: 175 Pedestrian Crashes

Downtown Las Vegas represents the second-highest concentration of pedestrian collisions in the city. This historic urban core features the iconic Fremont Street Experience, numerous casinos, hotels, restaurants, and government buildings, creating a complex mix of tourist, local, and business pedestrian traffic. The unique blend of vehicular traffic and high-volume pedestrian areas creates significant safety challenges.

The broader Downtown Las Vegas area has recorded:

• 175 total pedestrian crashes
• 143 crashes resulting in injuries (82% injury rate)
• 6 fatal crashes (3.4% fatality rate)
• 54 hit-and-run crashes (31% of total crashes)

Note: This hit-and-run rate exceeds the Clark County average of 25%, indicating a particular concern in this area.

Critical Areas

Fremont Street Experience Concentration

Within Downtown, the Fremont Street Experience and its immediate vicinity form a distinct high-collision sub-zone:

• 79 total pedestrian crashes (45% of all Downtown crashes)
• 63 crashes resulting in injuries (80% injury rate)
• 3 fatal crashes (3.8% fatality rate)

Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard

The intersection of Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard has emerged as the most dangerous single crossing point in Downtown:

• 16 total pedestrian crashes
• This intersection marks the boundary between the pedestrianized Fremont Street Experience and traditional roadways, creating potential confusion for both pedestrians and drivers

#3: Greater Las Vegas Strip: 123 Pedestrian Crashes

The Las Vegas Strip corridor represents the third-highest concentration of pedestrian collisions in the city. This world-famous tourist destination features high-density resort properties, entertainment venues, and retail developments that attract over 40 million visitors annually. The unique character of the Las Vegas Strip as both a pedestrian thoroughfare and major traffic artery creates distinctive safety challenges.

The Las Vegas Strip area has recorded:

• 123 total pedestrian crashes
• 110 crashes resulting in injuries (89% injury rate)
• 3 fatal crashes (2.4% fatality rate)

Note: The 89% injury rate in this zone significantly exceeds the Clark County average of 80%, indicating potentially higher-speed collisions or more vulnerable pedestrian populations.

Critical Corridors

South Las Vegas Boulevard between East Flamingo Road and East Harmon Avenue

This half-mile stretch features several major resort properties, including Bellagio, Caesars Palace, The Cosmopolitan, and Planet Hollywood. The corridor experiences:

• Exceptionally high pedestrian volumes crossing both at intersections and mid-block
• Frequent rideshare and taxi pickups/drop-offs
• Tourist pedestrians who may be unfamiliar with local traffic patterns

Flamingo Road approach to Las Vegas Boulevard

This major east-west corridor funnels significant vehicle traffic toward the Strip while also serving as a key pedestrian route between resorts and attractions.

Alcohol-Related Incidents

A distinctive characteristic of this zone is the elevated rate of alcohol involvement:

• The concentration of nightlife venues and 24-hour alcohol service likely contributes to this elevated risk profile
• 20% of pedestrian crashes in this area involve drivers under the influence of alcohol
• This is more than double the Clark County average of 9%

#4: North Las Vegas: 107 Pedestrian Crashes

The North Las Vegas corridor represents a significant pedestrian safety concern within the greater Las Vegas metropolitan area. This urban district features a distinctive mix of residential neighborhoods, commercial developments, and industrial zones, creating diverse pedestrian traffic patterns. Unlike the tourist-dominated areas of the Strip, this zone primarily serves local residents navigating their community on foot, often in areas with inconsistent pedestrian infrastructure.

The North Las Vegas study area has recorded:

• 107 total pedestrian crashes
• Multiple concentrated collision clusters focused around major intersections
• Distinctive collision patterns reflecting local mobility challenges

Critical Intersections

East Owens Avenue at Las Vegas Boulevard and North Main Street

This complex intersection zone forms the epicenter of pedestrian safety concerns in North Las Vegas:

• 36 total pedestrian crashes (34% of the area’s collisions)
• Serves as a critical junction connecting residential neighborhoods with commercial services

Las Vegas Boulevard and Lake Mead North Boulevard

This major intersection creates a second high-collision focal point:

• 24 total pedestrian crashes
• Functions as a primary commercial node serving surrounding neighborhoods
• Experiences heavy traffic volume on both arterial roadways

Contributing Factors

Several elements distinguish the North Las Vegas collision patterns from other high-risk zones in the metropolitan area:

• Higher proportion of local, non-tourist pedestrians
• Greater dependence on walking for essential transportation
• More variable street lighting conditions
• Wider variance in sidewalk availability and quality

#5: North Strip: Sahara Ave and Las Vegas Blvd: 78 Pedestrian Crashes

The North End of the Las Vegas Strip represents the fifth-highest concentration of pedestrian collisions in the city. This transitional area marks the boundary between the dense resort corridor of the central Strip and the older, more diversified urban development to the north. The zone is centered on the intersection of Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard, creating a critical juncture where major traffic flows converge with substantial pedestrian activity.

The North Strip area has recorded:

• 78 total pedestrian crashes
• 59 crashes resulting in injuries (76% injury rate)
• 4 fatal crashes (5.1% fatality rate)
• 28 hit-and-run crashes (36% of total crashes)

Note: The hit-and-run rate of 36% significantly exceeds the Clark County average of 25%, suggesting potential issues with driver accountability in this zone.

Critical Intersections

Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard

This major intersection sits at the nexus of several important traffic patterns:

• Sahara Avenue functions as a primary east-west arterial route across the Las Vegas Valley
• Las Vegas Boulevard carries both tourist and local traffic
• The Sahara Las Vegas resort creates significant pedestrian activity with casino patrons crossing to access other Strip properties

Collision data for this specific intersection:

• 15 total pedestrian crashes
• 10 crashes resulting in injuries
• 2 fatal crashes (13.3% fatality rate at this single intersection)

Las Vegas Boulevard and Paradise Road

Located in proximity to the main intersection, this secondary hotspot experiences:

• 8 total pedestrian crashes
• Serves as a connection between Strip properties and the residential/commercial areas to the east

Contributing Factors

The North Strip area differs from the central Strip in several ways that may contribute to collision patterns:

• Wider roadways with higher vehicle speeds
• Less continuous pedestrian infrastructure
• More local traffic mixing with tourist vehicles
• Greater distance between marked crossings
• Varied lighting conditions compared to the brightly illuminated central Strip

Data Sources and Methodology

This collision study utilizes crash data obtained from the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) Open Data portal, encompassing a seven-year observation period from March 2018 through February 2025. We focused exclusively on incidents involving pedestrians to identify critical safety patterns across Las Vegas and Clark County.

Our analysis employs advanced spatial clustering techniques to identify high-risk pedestrian collision zones throughout Clark County. Each incident was precisely mapped using:

• Geocoded location coordinates
• Crash severity classifications (non-injury, injury, fatal)
• Contributing factors (alcohol involvement, hit-and-run status)
• Time-of-day and seasonal patterns

The resulting heat maps represent statistically significant collision clusters, with each high-collision zone subjected to detailed intersection-level analysis.

Fair Use Statement

The findings presented in this study are intended to serve the public interest by identifying critical safety concerns in our community. We actively encourage the sharing of this analysis with appropriate attribution.

When referencing or distributing this research, please provide proper attribution by linking to this page. Responsible sharing of this data supports our collective goal of creating safer transportation environments for all Las Vegas residents and visitors.