According to the most recent edition of the Pedestrian Danger Index by the National Complete Streets Coalition, the four most dangerous metropolitan areas for walking in the United States are all in Florida, NBC News reports. Orlando has been named the most dangerous region for pedestrians, followed by Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami.

The National Complete Streets Coalition’s Report

As the Ocala Star–Banner explains, the National Complete Streets Coalition examined the deaths of more than 47,000 pedestrians and the injuries of more than 675,000 pedestrians in the United States between 2003 and 2012.

Here are some findings from the National Complete Streets Coalition’s report:

  • Nearly 5,000 pedestrian fatalities occur per year. (NBC News)
  • The number of pedestrian fatalities increased six percent between 2011 and 2012. (NBC News)
  • The Pedestrian Danger Index (“PDI”) for the United States as a whole is 52.2, and the annual fatality rate for pedestrians is 1.56 deaths for every 100,000 people. (NBC News)
  • In Florida, 73.3 percent of pedestrian deaths were on roadways with speed limits of 40 mph or higher, while 3.7 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred on streets with speed limits of 30 mph or lower. Just 1.4 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred on streets with speed limits of 20 mph or lower. (The Ocala Star-Banner)
  • In the Orlando metropolitan area, 583 pedestrian deaths occurred between 2003 and 2012. There were 2.75 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people between 2008 and 2012. Orlando’s PDI is 244.28. (National Complete Streets Coalition)
  • Orlando’s PDI is nearly five times the national average. (NBC News)
  • In the Tampa metropolitan area, 874 pedestrian deaths occurred between 2003 and 2012. There were 2.97 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people between 2008 and 2012. Tampa’s PDI is 190.13. (National Complete Streets Coalition)
  • In the Jacksonville metropolitan area, 359 pedestrian deaths occurred between 2003 and 2012. There were 2.48 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people between 2008 and 2012. Jacksonville’s PDI is 182.71. (National Complete Streets Coalition)
  • In the Miami metropolitan area, 1,539 pedestrian deaths occurred between 2003 and 2012. There were 2.58 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people between 2008 and 2012. Miami’s PDI is 145.33. (National Complete Streets Coalition)
  • The Boston metropolitan area was ranked the safest for pedestrians, followed by Pittsburgh, Seattle, New York and San Francisco. (The Associated Press)

Florida Going Forward

The National Complete Streets Coalition’s report raises questions about what the state of Florida—and the regions of Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami, in particular—are doing to improve pedestrian safety in light of the report’s findings, especially considering the same four metropolitan areas were ranked last in 2011 as well.

According to the report, the state of Florida has created the Bicycle/Pedestrian Focused Initiative. Further, the Florida Department of Transportation has added two full-time pedestrian and bicycle safety specialists to each district office. One specialist focuses on street planning and design; the other focuses on policy and education.

Many cities and counties in Florida have also been working to improve pedestrian safety. Jacksonville, for example, has hired a full-time bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. In central Florida, the Best Foot Forward coalition has employed engineering, education and enforcement strategies in an effort to reduce pedestrian injuries and fatalities.

If you have been injured as a pedestrian, contact an experienced attorney at Reed & Reed today with offices in Brandon and Tampa.