A new research study released by Governing highlights a stark disparity between pedestrian fatality rates in wealthy and poor neighborhoods. While total traffic fatalities have decreased nationally, the number of pedestrians killed along the nation’s roadways hasn’t declined, and in most parts of the country, it’s the poorer neighborhoods that are experiencing the highest death rates—often at rates approximately double those of neighboring, wealthier communities.

Governing analyzed accident location data for the more than 22,000 pedestrian fatalities reported in federal data from 2008-2012. Within metro areas, low-income census tracts recorded pedestrian fatality rates approximately twice that of more affluent neighborhoods. Similarly, wealthier metro-area tracts with poverty rates below the national rate of 15 percent registered 5.3 deaths per 100,000 residents over the five-year period. By comparison, poorer neighborhoods where more than a quarter of the population lived in poverty had a far higher rate of 12.1 deaths per 100,000 people.

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Metro Area Statistics:

  • 1,099 Pedestrian deaths from 2008 to 2012
  • Total five-year per capita rate of 8.6 deaths per 100k; annual rate of 1.7 deaths per 100k
  • High Poverty (>25%) Tracts: 11.8 deaths per 100K from 2008-2012
  • Above Average Poverty (15-25%) Tracts: 10.4 deaths per 100K from 2008-2012
  • Below National Poverty Average (<15%) Tracts: 6.5 deaths per 100K from 2008-2012

Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade Metro Area Statistics:

  • 169 Pedestrian deaths from 2008 to 2012
  • Total five-year per capita rate of 7.9 deaths per 100k; annual rate of 1.6 deaths per 100k
  • High Poverty (>25%) Tracts: 15.7 deaths per 100K from 2008-2012
  • Above Average Poverty (15-25%) Tracts: 9.8 deaths per 100K from 2008-2012
  • Below National Poverty Average (<15%) Tracts: 4.9 deaths per 100K from 2008-2012

Additional results for all larger metro areas and counties are listed in the report.

For many regions, the disparity in pedestrian fatality rates was particularly large. Larger metro areas where poorer communities recorded notably higher fatality rates include the Tampa-St. Petersburg, St. Louis and Jacksonville metro areas. Of the 104 metro areas examined with at least a half million residents, all but four recorded higher per capita pedestrian death rates for poor census tracts (with poverty rates greater than 25 percent) than their metro area total. (Census tracts vary in size, but are similar to neighborhoods.)

Those in low-income areas without cars must walk to their destinations or public transit stops, increasing their exposure risk. Research further suggests these areas are served by less pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

Governing also ranked metro areas by total pedestrian death rates. The following table shows metro areas with at least a half-million residents recording the highest per capita pedestrian death rates over the five-year period:

Rank Metro Area 5-year Deaths Per 100K Annual Deaths Per 100K 2008-2012 Total Deaths
1 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL 18.3 3.7 108
2 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 14.5 2.9 403
3 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 13.5 2.7 289
4 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL 13.3 2.7 80
5 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 12.7 2.5 72
6 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach,FL 12.6 2.5 703
7 Jacksonville, FL 12.0 2.4 162
8 North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL 11.8 2.4 83
9 Bakersfield, CA 11.4 2.3 96
10 El Paso, TX 10.8 2.2 87
11 Baton Rouge, LA 10.7 2.1 86
12 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 10.7 2.1 58
13 Columbia, SC 10.6 2.1 81
14 Fresno, CA 10.4 2.1 97
15 Charleston-North Charleston, SC 10.4 2.1 69
16 New Orleans-Metairie, LA 10.1 2.0 120
17 Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC 10.0 2.0 82
18 Tucson, AZ 9.7 1.9 95
19 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL 9.2 1.8 57
20 Stockton-Lodi, CA 9.2 1.8 63
21 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 9.1 1.8 195
22 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 8.8 1.8 238
23 Modesto, CA 8.7 1.7 45
24 Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 8.7 1.7 366
25 Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV 8.7 1.7 170

Within all the nation’s metro areas, approximately 7.2 pedestrians per 100,000 residents died between 2008 through 2012.  Complete rankings for all larger metro areas and counties are listed in the report.

REPORT CONTENT

Download Full Report: www.governing.com/pedestrians-report
Metro area data: http://www.governing.com/pedestrians-msas
Data for larger counties: http://www.governing.com/pedestrians-counties
Map of all fatal pedestrian accidents: http://www.governing.com/pedestrians-map
Story: http://www.governing.com/pedestrians-story