*Dangerous by Design 2021: Pedestrian Deaths Up 45%*
The new edition of Dangerous by Design 2021 https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e453ab5d&id=b22bf36666&e=4b644bd567 from Smart Growth America reports that the number of people hit and killed by drivers while walking in the US increased by 45% in the last decade, and that the last four years have been the deadliest for pedestrian deaths since 1990. The report also highlights ongoing disparities in which groups of people are at greatest risk of dying while walking. Older adults, Black or African American and American Indian or Alaska Native people, and people in low-income communities continue to be disproportionately represented in fatal crashes involving people walking. The report uses the most recent federal Fatal Accident Reporting System data on pedestrian fatalities combined with data on population and walking rates to rank states and the 100 most populous metropolitan areas by their “Pedestrian Danger Index." Forty-nine states and 84 of the 100 largest metro areas have become more dangerous since the 2019 edition of the Dangerous by Design report.
The report calls on states, localities, and the federal government to make improving pedestrian safety an urgent priority and identifies actions that can save lives. These include passing the newly introduced Complete Streets Act of 2021 https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e453ab5d&id=609d048151&e=4b644bd567, which would require state DOTs and MPOs to plan for all people who use the street, including the most vulnerable users. Learn more about the Dangerous by Design report in a webinar on March 25 at 2:00 pm ET https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e453ab5d&id=e1345a6196&e=4b644bd567 .