Almost 6,000 U.S. pedestrians died in 2016, the latest in a string of increases.

Be careful out there on foot – Death on foot: Pedestrian fatalities skyrocket in U.S.

Distraction behind the wheel, texting while walking and even marijuana legalization have all been tagged as potential culprits in past research.

In addition, a new study released Tuesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows an 81% increase in single-vehicle pedestrian fatalities involving SUVs between 2009 and 2016, based on federal records.