More than 200 pedestrians died in the area between 2008 and 2017, according to a report.

In an updated nationwide study released today, Florida again ranks as the most dangerous of the 50 states for pedestrians — with the Sarasota-Manatee region rising from the 10th spot two years ago to the fourth most deadly for walkers among the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas.

In their latest “Dangerous by Design” report, Smart Growth America and its National Complete Streets Coalition state that, with 235 pedestrian deaths from 2008 to 2017, the Sarasota-Bradenton-North Port area is becoming increasingly risky for walkers sharing streets with drivers.

With 5,433 deaths during the same period, Florida again ranks as the most dangerous state for pedestrians, according to the study.

In the “Dangerous by Design” report released in January 2017, this region ranked as the 10th most deadly for pedestrians in the nation.

According to the organizations’ updated Pedestrian Danger Index, which compares annual pedestrian fatalities with metro areas’ total populations, the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area tops the list with 313 pedestrian deaths between 2008 and 2017.

It is followed by Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach-Deltona (265 deaths) and Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville (245). Lakeland-Winter Haven follows this area in the fifth spot with 231 deaths. Jacksonville ranks sixth with 226 deaths.

Bakersfield, California, puts another state into the mix with a ranking as the seventh most deadly metro area. Yet Cape Coral-Fort Myers brings Florida back onto the list in the No. 8 spot (217 deaths) followed by Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater at No. 9 (205).

Jackson, Mississippi, ranked 10th.

Of the Top 10 most dangerous metro areas, the organizations say eight regions in Florida are on the list. Of the Top 20, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach (at No. 14) brings that number to nine.

According to the study, between 2008 and 2017, drivers killed 49,340 pedestrians across the United States — more than 13 people each day or one person every hour and 46 minutes.

“It’s the equivalent of a jumbo jet full of people dying every single month,” the report states.

In the past decade, according to the study, the number of pedestrian deaths nationwide increased by 35 percent — with 2016 and 2017 being the two highest years since 1990.

Meanwhile, traffic fatalities for motor vehicle occupants decreased by 6.1 percent.

“What is happening is that our streets, which we designed for the movement of vehicles, haven’t changed,” the report states.

Especially vulnerable are pedestrians in “the southern continental United States, older adults, people of color and people walking in low-income communities.”

The Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (which prioritizes state and federal transportation projects in the bi-county area), its member counties and municipalities and the Florida Department of Transportation are committed to a “complete streets” approach — ensuring roads not only accommodate motor vehicles but have adequate sidewalks, crosswalks and signals for pedestrians.

Yet they also admit they have a long way to go in retrofitting many existing roads for which sidewalks either do not exist or are not connected, making pedestrians more at risk of getting struck.

“Anyone who travels by foot or bike in our community knows many areas are dangerous, including several areas in south (Manatee) County,” said newly elected Manatee County Commissioner Misty Servia, who will serve on the MPO board. “One of my top campaign issues was to tackle bike and pedestrian safety. With traffic congestion a major problem, having safe ways to travel by bicycle or foot would be a big relief and promote a healthy lifestyle. Better lighting, more visible crosswalks, public education and better long-range planning are key ways to help keep our residents safe.”

David Hutchinson, executive director of the MPO, said he wants "a transparent dialogue" with Smart Growth America about its index, "which seems flawed and may portray our area to be more dangerous compared to other areas than it truly is. That said, the report presents sobering facts, valid observations and valuable recommendations which can contribute to the community discussion on how to ensure that the design and operation of our streets can better protect the safety of all users."





