deadliest cities for pedestrians
Study: Orlando Is Deadliest For Pedestrians Top Four Deadly Cities Are In Florida POSTED: 12:11 pm EST December 2, 2004 Orlando is the deadliest city in the nation for pedestrians, according to a private study released Thursday. Also, the top four deadly cities are all in Florida, according to the results. A private study released by the Surface Transportation Policy Project says people are three times more likely to be struck and killed on Florida streets in Orlando, Miami and the Tampa area than they are in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. Orlando's streets, the most dangerous in the nation, and has seen its pedestrian death rate increase 117 percent in the last 10 years. Things have also gotten worse in Richmond, Va., and Memphis, Tenn. However, Salt Lake City; Portland, Ore.; Austin, Texas; New Orleans; and Los Angeles all cut their death rates by at least 20 percent. The study, called the "Mean Streets" report, says that, in general, newer cities have wider roads which invite faster traffic. It says they also lack enough crosswalks and sidewalks. Researchers say those factors can combine to "make walking a deadly activity." In 2003, it was fatal for 4,827 pedestrians, 11.3 percent of all traffic fatalities, the study said. From 1994 to 2003, 51,989 pedestrians have died on U.S. streets. The authors also noted that senior citizens, African-American and Latino pedestrians suffer a fatality rate well in excess of the population at large. The worst cities in America for pedestrian deaths are: Orlando, Fla. Tampa, Fla. West Palm Beach, Fla. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Memphis, Tenn. Atlanta Greensboro, N.C. Jacksonville, Fla. Phoenix Houston