Pedestrians in Houston Region at High Risk of Accidents « Houston Accident Attorney | Texas Personal Injury Lawyer Houston

Pedestrians in Houston Region at High Risk of Accidents

There is bad news for pedestrians in the Houston region -this area has been found to one of the most dangerous areas for pedestrians in the country. A report by Transportation for America titled Dangerous by Design also finds that the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area is dangerous for pedestrians.

The Houston -Sugar Land-Baytown region was placed at number nine on the list of the most dangerous cities in the country for pedestrians. This region had 1,024 pedestrian accident fatalities between 2000 and 2009. It also had a Pedestrian Danger Index of 128.2. The Pedestrian Danger Index is a measure that was developed by the Transportation for America folks to determine a city’s risk quotient for pedestrians.

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington region had a Pedestrian Danger Index of 19.4, and ranks just behind Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown. This region had 942 pedestrian accident fatalities between 2000 and 2009.

With a Pedestrian Danger Index score of 255.4, the Orlando-Kissimmee region in Florida was rated as the most dangerous area for pedestrians in the U.S. In fact, metropolitan regions in Florida fared poorly on the list, occupying the top four slots on the list.

Dangerous by Design makes several recommendations for states to work towards reducing pedestrian hazards and making their cities safer for pedestrians. The agency wants the federal administration to hold states accountable for the creation of pedestrian-friendly communities. It also wants dedicated federal funding for the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians, including funding for the Transportation Enhancements and the Safe Routes to School program. Transportation for America also recommends that the administration adopt a national safety policy.

Vuk Vujasinovic is a Houston car accident lawyer, representing victims of auto and car accidents around Texas and nationwide.