REPORT: Brevard County Ranked No. 2 In The Nation For Most Hazardous Area For Pedestrians

By  //  January 18, 2017

Palm Bay/Melbourne/Titusville metro area Ranked No. 2

The report ranks the Palm Bay/Melbourne/Titusville metro area (i.e., Brevard County) as the second most hazardous area for pedestrians among the 104 largest metro areas in the country.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Today, Smart Growth America released the latest edition of its Dangerous By Design report which ranks the most dangerous metro areas in the nation for pedestrian safety.

The report ranks the Palm Bay/Melbourne/Titusville metro area (i.e., Brevard County) as the second most hazardous area for pedestrians among the 104 largest metro areas in the country.

Here are some highlights from the report:

• Nine of the eleven highest ranking areas are in Florida. The entire Central Florida region from Brevard/Volusia to Tampa/Sarasota is in the national top 10.

• The 2016 version extended the analysis from the largest 50 in prior editions to the top 104 urban areas. Brevard was not included in the previous editions.

• The ranking is based on a “Pedestrian Danger Index.” The formula includes total pedestrian fatalities over ten years, annual pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 population and percent of commuters who walk to work. Page 30 of the report discusses methodology.

• The report also ranks pedestrian hazard by state. Not unexpectedly, Florida is number one as it has been in all prior editions back to 2010. The highest ranking states and urban areas are almost all in the south from California to Florida.

• Brevard had 18 pedestrian fatalities in 2015, somewhat above the ten year average of 14 per year. A recent increase in pedestrian fatalities has been reported nationwide.

• The report discusses that, at a national level, older adult and minority pedestrians appear to have a higher risk of being struck. This is NOT the case in Florida. These groups are not over represented in the crash data. The risk of a crash is fairly equal across all age and ethnic demographics.

To See Full Report & Rankings CLICK HERE

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“Pedestrian safety has been a top Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization priority for thirty years. We have developed an extensive and comprehensive program involving many partners to address this important public safety issue,” said a spokesperson with the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization.

“We will continue and even increase their commitment, however there are no easy solutions. The problem is complex with many contributing factors. Our region will continue to address the problem by employing an integrated approach involving the 3-Es: engineering, education and enforcement.”