Background At present traffic accidents are a major public health with increased mortality and morbidity in many countries. According to the WHO, in 2008 one million 300 thousand people died as a result of a traffic accident. In Mexico, in 1999–2010, 185 thousand people died in traffic accidents, 38% of those were pedestrians. The combination of human, vehicle and media environment factors are involved in those accidents. Thus, the epidemiological profile of pedestrians hit by motor vehicles with four wheels in Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (GMA) was conducted.

Methodology Descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted at pedestrians struck in the GMA. The features of pedestrian, vehicle type, location, shift and day of the event, municipality of occurrence, type of road and traffic flow were studied. Analysis was measured by averages, percentages, chi2 and Fisher test, statistically significant at P=<0.05.

Results 397 pedestrians were injured by motor vehicle wheel. Municipalities with the highest percentage: Guadalajara (41.3%) and Zapopan (29.7%). Age frecuency: 18–39 years (57.4%) and predominantly male (80.4%). Marital status: 44.1% is single and 32.7% married. Educational level: 67.8% of individuals studied middle school or lower. Occupation: 52.6% of the victims are wheter employee, trader or construction worker. Most present fractures and injuries of extremities (87.6%) and skull (67%). Index severity of serious injuries: 27%. Event occurrence between 18:00 to 23:59 hours (39.5%), weekend (65.6%) and road (72.3%). Sedan type vehicle is involved in 37.8%.

Conclusions The run over pedestrians is an everyday event in the GMA, with similar to what was found in other countries and contexts, where each day is greater the number of vehicles and the number of subjects behaviour. In that sense, the need to implement intervention programs preventive measures in the pedestrian and driver are conclusive.