Unsafe roads are ubiquitous in sprawling, low-density settlement patterns
Smart Growth America’s 2019 “Dangerous By Design” report compiles a Pedestrian Danger Index based on annual pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 people between 2008 and 2017. Among the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas, the safest metro in the country for pedestrians is Provo, Utah. The most dangerous is Orlando, Fla.
Washington-Arlington ranked 24th safest in the country. The region’s 764 pedestrian fatalities over the decade amounted to a rate of 1.25 death per 100,000 residents.
Virginia Beach-Norfolk was close behind, ranking 26th safest. The region’s 213 pedestrian fatalities amount to a rate of 1.24 deaths per 100,000.
Virginia’ most dangerous metro for pedestrians was Richmond — 52nd safest in the country. The region’s 175 pedestrian deaths amount to a rate per 100,000 of 1.39.
Statewide, Virginia fared a tad better than the national average: 865 pedestrian fatalities, amounting to 1.04 deaths per 100,000.
Bacon’s bottom line: Let’s face it. When it comes to public health scourges, pedestrian fatalities is pretty low on the list of things to worry about. But the Loss of 865 lives over a decade is not trivial. And unlike some problems, which seem utterly intractable, it is within our power to design safer, pedestrian-friendly streets and settlement patterns. Writes Smart Growth America: “Rather than designing roads that encourage speeding and then relying upon enforcement, states and cities should design roads to encourage safer, slower driving speeds in the first place.”
