Florida Leads Nation In Most Dangerous Metro Areas For Preventable Pedestrian Deaths

Efforts to make streets and roads safer are growing, but most recent report finds Florida has eight of 10 most dangerous metro areas for pedestrians

  St. Petersburg, Fla. – Efforts to improve Florida’s livability are growing, but the Sunshine State still ranked as the nation’s deadliest state for pedestrians, with eight out of the 10 most dangerous metro areas for pedestrians to be found in Florida, according to a new report.

The report, released by the National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America, AARP and other organizations, ranked the Cape Coral-Ft. Myers area as the most dangerous metro area in the nation, with Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Jacksonville, and Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach making up the next four most dangerous metro areas.

Lakeland-Winter Haven ranks sixth in the nationwide ranking, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ranks seventh and North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton ranks tenth. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-West Palm Beach ranks 11 ^th in the study.

AARP and other national experts are participating in a webinar at 1 pm today to delve further into the report. To take part in the webinar, go to: https://smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerous-design-2016-coming/

The report comes against a background of rising pedestrian deaths nationally, driven in part by decades-old street designs that mix pedestrian traffic with fast-moving vehicles. But Florida’s pedestrian-danger index has actually fallen since previous reports were issued, and federal, state and local officials have begun to put better policies in place, the report says.

“Clearly, Florida has a lot of work to do to help keep older pedestrians safer. But that work has begun,” said Laura Cantwell, AARP Florida’s Associate State Director for Livable Communities and a leader in helping to encourage better pedestrian-safety policies statewide. Cantwell cited work by the Florida Department of Transportation as one encouraging sign: http://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/getting-around/info-2016/interview-billy-hattaway-FDOT-complete-streets.html

Concerns about pedestrian safety are one reason why more and more Florida cities and counties are joining the AARP-World Health Organization Age-Friendly Community Network, Cantwell said. She noted that the Florida Department of Transportation has adopted and is aggressively implementing a Complete Streets plan, adopted in December 2015. Since 2011, Florida’s pedestrian danger index in this study has dropped. She also noted that Florida members of Congress, led by Congressman Carlos Curbelo, R-Miami, have played an important role in improving pedestrian-safety policies on the federal level.

Still, Cantwell noted, Florida pedestrians and motorists should take careful note of the study’s findings. “The report underscores that people 50 and older are more vulnerable if struck in a traffic accident,” Cantwell said.

Solutions are available, including reducing the number of lanes and installing center medians on streets that mix pedestrian, bicycle, foot and vehicular traffic, the report said.

The report provides an expanded look at pedestrian safety patterns in 104 communities around the nation, and also examines how pedestrian fatalities disproportionately affect diverse communities and older people.

In addition, the report presents data on pedestrian fatalities and injuries in every U.S. metro area included in the study, as well as state and county assessments and an online, interactive map showing the locations where pedestrian fatalities have occurred.

To learn more about AARP’s Livable Communities work, please go to http://www.aarp.org/livable-communities .

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About The National Complete Streets Coalition
The National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America, seeks to fundamentally transform the look, feel and function of the roads and streets in our community, by changing the way most roads are planned, designed and constructed. Complete Streets policies direct transportation planners and engineers to consistently plan and design streets with all users in mind.

About Smart Growth America
Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring better development to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transportation or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods.

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.