America’s Most Dangerous Cities for Pedestrians

Crossing the street in certain cities can be more dangerous than expected, especially for pedestrians. According to Smart Growth America’s “Dangerous By Design” 2024 study, pedestrians in Memphis, Tennessee faced the highest likelihood of fatalities, while Florida had the most cities listed among the top 20 most dangerous metro areas.

In Memphis, an average of 5.14 individuals per 100,000 residents died between 2018 and 2022, closely followed by Albuquerque, New Mexico with 4.38 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Smart Growth identified the top ten deadliest metro areas for pedestrians as follows:
1. Memphis, TN: 5.14 per 100,000 residents
2. Albuquerque, NM: 4.83
3. Tucson, AZ: 4.16
4. Bakersfield, CA: 3.99
5. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond, FL: 3.96
6. Baton Rouge, LA: 3.96
7. Fresno, CA: 3.89
8. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL: 3.75
9. Charleston-North Charleston, SC: 3.66
10. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR: 3.63

Furthermore, the study highlighted the increasing dangers faced by pedestrians in large metro areas. In 2009, only eight areas reported more than two pedestrian deaths per 100,000 residents, whereas in 2014, this number doubled to 18. Notably, the most dangerous area in 2009, Orlando, would not even make the top 20 list in the 2024 report.

Among the top 20 most dangerous metro areas, Florida had eight cities listed. Despite Jacksonville showing a slight decrease in pedestrian deaths over a five-year period, this improvement is likely attributed to population growth rather than substantial safety enhancements. The report emphasized that rapidly growing regions in the South and Sunbelt areas are witnessing a surge in pedestrian fatalities, surpassing the pace of population growth.

To address pedestrian safety concerns, the responsibility largely falls on state and local governments. Smart Growth found that 66% of all traffic fatalities in the study occurred on state-owned roads. Detroit and Buffalo, N.Y., were cited as exemplary models for pedestrian safety, with both regions experiencing a significant decrease in pedestrian deaths since 2018. The findings suggest that concerted efforts at the governmental level are crucial for implementing safety measures and reducing pedestrian fatalities effectively.