• 13
  • June
    2011

Distracted driving, intoxicated drivers and reckless maneuvers all pose huge risks to pedestrians at intersections, near driveway entrances and in parking ramps. But a large share of pedestrian deaths may be attributable to--and avoidable with--proper roadway design, according to a report released in May by Transportation for America.

The study is based on statistics from every county in the U.S. and ranks the 52 largest American metropolitan areas for pedestrian safety. The most dangerous are all in Florida: Orlando, Tampa, Miami and Jacksonville ranked one through four. Tampa's "Pedestrian Danger Index," based on its average yearly fatality rate for pedestrians as well as overall pedestrian activity, is nearly double the tenth city on the list and almost ten times higher than the safest cities: Boston and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

"Dangerous by Design 2011: Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths," focuses on federally-funded but dangerous road corridors nationwide; more than two-thirds of fatal pedestrian accidents over the past decade occurred on such roadways. The most dangerous stretches have few if any sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic controls and other protections to allow pedestrians to safely cross.

Transportation for America's study found that more than 47,700 pedestrians died on U.S. streets, roads and highways over the past decade. Tampa exceeded Orlando with the highest pedestrian death rate in the country: 3.52 deaths per 100,000. That means serious peril for walkers, joggers and strollers throughout Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and the surrounding suburbs. Our youngest and oldest are most vulnerable.

The group advocates for a national strategy to improve infrastructure and enhance safety, noting that upgrades to proven dangerous roadways have been a low budget priority. At the same time, we need to reduce our tolerance for drivers who drive recklessly, ignore speed limits and disregard the safety of others.

Source: Transportation for America, "Dangerous By Design 2011: Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths"