A new study found that three California cities are in the top 10 when it comes to the highest average pedestrian deaths — and such deaths are part of a nationwide trend that’s only getting worse.
“While the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has upended many aspects of daily life, including how people get around, one terrible long-term trend has remained unchanged: the alarming rise in people being struck while walking and be killed,” city policy group Smart Growth America wrote in its Dangerous by Design 2022 report.
Pedestrian deaths across the country rose to a new high in 2020 — more than 6,500, or nearly 18 a day — the report said, citing the latest federal data available. After the data is released, annual deaths could top 7,200 in 2021, according to forecasts by the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Where does California stand?
The in Washington D.C. The nonprofit found that Bakersfield is the seventh deadliest California city for pedestrians, averaging 3.41 deaths per 100,000 people per year.
Stockton was ninth with an average of 3.35 deaths and Fresno was 10th with 3.25 deaths.
Also in the top 50 deadliest cities were:
The San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley metro area ranked 56th with an average of 1.61 deaths per year.
The state of California also does not do well overall when it comes to pedestrian safety. With Georgia, California, the average death rate ranks ninth, behind only Nevada, Mississippi, Louisiana, Delaware, Arizona, South Carolina, Florida and New Mexico.
An uneven death toll
The study found that, as in previous years, those hit and killed by motor vehicles tended to be older and more likely to walk in low-income neighborhoods.
“Although everyone is affected in some way by hazardous road design, that burden is not shared equally,” the authors say. “Despite other changes, the pandemic has perpetuated existing differences about who is killed most often: Black people and Native Americans.”
The study blamed these differences on low-income neighborhoods, which are less likely to have sidewalks, marked crosswalks, streets designed for slower speeds, and parks or other areas that provide safe spots for recreational walking.
“Low-income neighborhoods are also much more likely to have arterial roads built for high speeds and higher traffic volumes at intersections, which exacerbates dangerous conditions for pedestrians,” the study found.
What can be done?
The authors of Dangerous by Design say the death toll continues to rise each year because our nation’s roads and intersections are designed with driving efficiency in mind, not pedestrian safety.
“The result in 2020 was a significant increase in all traffic fatalities, even with fewer cars driven overall due to the pandemic,” the study says.
While speed limit signs are regular reminders to drive safely, the design of city streets can be far more influential, the group argues.
According to one example from the study, long, straight, multi-lane thoroughfares built to allow as many vehicles as possible to get from one point to another are a recipe for faster speeds. Add rounded sidewalk corners at intersections and drivers can exit these thoroughfares at top speed, potentially endangering pedestrians attempting to cross the street.
A study by Texas A&M found that reducing the turning radius at an intersection from 30 feet to 10 feet is likely to reduce pedestrian accidents by 30 percent.
The group urges public planners to prioritize safe street design, mixed land use, and create neighborhoods where work, restaurants, shops, parks and other attractions are in close proximity.
“To do this, they must resolve the ingrained, unseen but strong emphasis on speed that is utterly incompatible with certainty,” the study reads.
What is the safest state in USA?
| Violent crime score | total score | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. New Jersey | 15.1 | 71.6 |
| 2. New Hampshire | 16.3 | 68.0 |
| 3. Rhode Island | 14.2 | 66.3 |
| 4. Maine | 17.3 | 66.0 |
Which US state is the safest to live in? Safest States in USA
- Maine. With a score of 66.02, Maine is the safest US state. …
- Vermont. With a score of 65.48, Vermont is the second safest state in the United States. …
- Minnesota. Minnesota is the third safest state in the US Minnesota’s overall score is 62.42. …
- Utah. …
- Wyoming. …
- Iowa. …
- Massachusetts. …
- New Hampshire.
What’s the most dangerous city in the US 2022?
The most dangerous cities in the US in 2022 are Atlanta, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Springfield, Memphis, Chattanooga, Little Rock and Tacoma. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program classifies murder, involuntary manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault as violent crimes.
Which state has the highest crime rate in 2022? District of Columbia. The District of Columbia has the highest crime rate in the United States at 5,416.09 incidents per 100,000 people. Violent Crimes in D.C. are on average more than double the average.
Where is the cheapest and safest place to live in USA?
1. Brownsville, Texas. Brownsville tops GOBankingRates list of the best places to live in the US for safety and affordability. Rent is the fourth lowest of any included location, and it has the fifth lowest average utility bills and lowest average grocery cost.
Which US city has the lowest cost of living? Wichita Falls, Texas was named the city with the lowest cost of living. Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Is Miami safer than NYC?
Crime Rate The crime rate in Miami is significantly higher than in New York City. According to an index compiled by BestPlace, New York scored 28.2 out of 100 for violent crime and 24.9 for property crime. In contrast, Miami scored 48.8 for violent crimes and 62.7 for property crimes.
Is Miami a safe place to live? Miami is a very safe place to live, but of course there are areas that score very low on the safety scale with crime rates.
Is Miami a safe city?
Just like the city of New York on the east coast, Miami is a largely safe city to visit. It may have a reputation for crime – of all kinds – but it’s about as safe as any other megalopolis city in the western world. It has gentrified in the main visiting areas, particularly the far north.
Is Miami a safe area?
Overall, Miami is a safe city, especially for tourists. There are some dangerous areas that should be avoided, but they are far from the usual tourist attractions. It is recommended to remain vigilant around tourist attractions as pickpockets are a problem there and to look out for suspicious activity wherever you go.
Why is Miami not safe?
Miami has a big problem with drugs, gangs and crime. While we can’t rate it as “safe” across the board, it’s a fairly safe city for travelers. Of course there are some areas that you should definitely avoid, but these are areas that most locals wouldn’t visit either. Natural hazards also need to be considered.
Is it cheaper to live in Miami or NYC?
The cost of living in Miami, FL is -38.2% lower than in New York, NY. You would need to earn a salary of $37,104 to maintain your current standard of living. Miami, FL employers typically pay -19.1% less than New York, NY employers.
Is it more expensive to live in NY or Miami?
The cost of living in New York, NY is 61.7% higher than in Miami, FL.
What salary do you need to live in Miami?
So, to live comfortably in Miami, you need a monthly income of around $3,500. With this amount you can cover the expenses mentioned and also cover any additional costs. These expenses can be expected—like hospitality, car repairs, and health insurance—or unexpected.
Is it better to live in Florida or New York?
The biggest advantage Florida has over New York is the lower overall tax burden. The higher your income, the greater the advantage that living in Florida has over New York on that one factor.
Why do so many New Yorkers move to Florida?
The number one reason New Yorkers move to Florida each year is probably the better weather. But income tax also helps a lot. Florida residents pay no state income tax. Taxes are primarily levied on consumption (you pay when you buy or sell a product or service).
Is Florida taxes cheaper than New York?
Florida has no personal income tax and no state estate tax, while New York currently has an income tax rate of up to 8.82% and estate taxes on estates over $5,850,000.00 of up to 16%. President Trump recently published his decision to take such a step.
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