Jacksonville Ranks 16th Most Dangerous Metro Area for Pedestrians in U.S.
New study ranks Jacksonville as 16th most dangerous metro area for pedestrians, with Florida claiming nine spots among the nation’s 27 deadliest cities for walkers.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA — Jacksonville ranks as the 16th most dangerous metropolitan area in the United States for pedestrians, according to a new study that highlights Florida’s ongoing struggles with pedestrian safety.
The report, titled “Dangerous by Design,” was published this week by Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition. The study ranks Florida as the fifth most dangerous state in the nation for pedestrians and cyclists, with nine of the 27 deadliest metro areas located within the state.
Florida Metro Areas Dominate Dangerous List
Tampa Bay leads Florida’s dangerous metro areas, ranking eighth nationally for pedestrian fatalities. The complete list of Florida metropolitan areas includes the Palm Bay/Melbourne/Titusville region at 11th, Deltona/Daytona Beach/Ormond Beach at 14th, and North Port/Bradenton/Sarasota at 15th.
Jacksonville’s 16th-place ranking puts it ahead of several other major Florida metro areas. The Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Palm Beach County region ranks 17th, followed by Lakeland-Winter Haven at 21st, Orlando/Kissimmee/Sanford at 25th, and Cape Coral/Fort Myers at 27th.
Memphis topped the national list as the deadliest metro area for pedestrians, with a fatality rate of 5.5 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Orlando Shows Improvement Despite High Ranking
While Florida dominated the dangerous metro areas list, the state showed some positive developments. Beth Osborne, president and CEO of Smart Growth America, highlighted Orlando as one of the places in the country showing real improvement in pedestrian safety.
“They have shown one of the steepest declines in fatalities for pedestrians and they used to top our list repeatedly,” Osborne said during a conference call to discuss the report. “It was a matter of leadership, both in terms of political leadership and leadership at their public works and transportation office that was able to articulate what they were trying to do and why they were trying to do it.”
Statewide Safety Concerns Continue
The study confirms Florida’s reputation as one of the most dangerous states for people walking and cycling. The research by Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition provides comprehensive data on pedestrian fatality rates across metropolitan areas nationwide.
The “Dangerous by Design” report analyzes pedestrian safety data to identify areas where infrastructure improvements and policy changes could help protect people walking. The study serves as a resource for communities working to improve pedestrian safety through better street design and transportation planning.
