Lee County, Florida Pedestrians at Greater Risk of Injury and Death in Traffic Accidents than in Other Communities
A Lee County, Fla. news source reports something that experienced Fort Myers car accident injury lawyers know to be true: that when it comes to serious and fatal pedestrian traffic accidents, Florida is the most dangerous state in the nation.
The North Fort Myers Neighbor reported on data released by Transportation for America. The organization looks at pedestrian traffic accident patterns nationwide, examining factors such as highway and road design, and when and where auto crashes involving pedestrian injuries and deaths take place.
The four deadliest metro areas in the country are all, in fact, major Florida destinations. They are Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Miami, Florida. The results were published in the study entitled Dangerous by Design 2011: Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths (and Making Great Neighborhoods). Here in Lee County, Florida, the pedestrian fatality rate is more than twice the national average and greater than in the rest of Florida. Looking at the years 2000 through 2009, the study found that the Lee County pedestrian fatality rate was 3.4 pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 people, compared with 1.6 per 100K nationwide and 3.0 for Florida overall.
The study cites poor street design as a major factor that compromises pedestrian safety -- including in South Florida. Most pedestrian deaths occur on roads designed to move volumes of speeding traffic -- not for people traveling on foot. These roads, by and large, lack sidewalks, crosswalks, or traffic signals that provide some protection for pedestrians. The people most likely to be killed in pedestrian and car crashes in Florida are children, senior citizens, and minority groups. Hispanics have a pedestrian death rate that is 37% higher than that of non-Hispanic whites, and African Americans have a death rate that is 48% higher than for non-Hispanic whites.
Earlier this year, USA Today reported that Florida is the deadliest state in the nation for both pedestrians and bicyclists. Florida's year-round sunny weather, and increase in population, mean more and more people are walking and biking in Florida -- and at risk of being hurt or killed in auto crashes. USA Today reports that Florida's population has exploded in the last half century, from 2.8 million people in 1950 to 18.5 million people today. This increased population poses more challenges for highway and street designers to safely accommodate more pedestrians and bicyclists.
Driver and pedestrian behavior also play a factor in pedestrian traffic accidents in Florida. This includes drivers who are not aware of pedestrians because of speeding, distracted driving, and drunk driving -- as well as pedestrians who walk at night, wearing dark clothing, and cross the street not in crosswalks. A spokesperson for a Florida Bicycle Association told USA Today, "There really needs to be a statewide safety awareness program. I see a lot done on drunk driving, seat belts, even child safety seats, but you don't see anything on pedestrian safety and bike safety." There were 466 pedestrian traffic crash fatalities in Florida in the year 2009.
Related Florida Pedestrian Accident Injury Lawyer article:
Fort Lauderdale and Miami Florida Among Worst Cities for Pedestrian Traffic Accident Risks May 25, 2011
Sources:
Florida ranked most dangerous state for pedestrians
North Fort Myers Neighbor May 31, 2011
Fla. deadliest state for walkers, cyclists
USAToday.com Feb. 28, 2011
Related Web Resources:
If you or a family member are injured a bike or pedestrian car crash in Florida, it's best to consult an experienced Fort Myers traffic accident injury lawyer, who is familiar with the laws regarding driver liability in Florida.
