What situation is most likely to lead to fatalities involving pedestrians?

The situation involving a pedestrian running across the path of a vehicle is particularly dangerous and is likely to lead to fatalities due to the unpredictable nature of the pedestrian's actions and the potential for a sudden and unavoidable collision. When a pedestrian makes an unexpected move, drivers may not have adequate time to react, especially if they are traveling at normal speeds or if visibility is limited. The impact of a vehicle hitting a pedestrian can be severe and often results in serious injury or death, particularly if the pedestrian is in a location where they are not anticipated to cross.

In contrast, other scenarios, while they may be dangerous, do not typically create the same immediate risk to a pedestrian's life. For instance, drivers speeding through green lights usually involve vehicles in motion without crossing pedestrian paths directly, while bicyclists ignoring traffic signals poses different risks primarily to themselves and other cyclists or drivers, rather than directly to pedestrians. Heavy pedestrian traffic in downtown areas can lead to congestion and potential accidents, but it is not inherently as life-threatening as the sudden interaction between a pedestrian and a moving vehicle.