• 22
  • September
    2011

A new report by a transportation-safety organization places a few California cities among the most dangerous in the nation for pedestrians. Because many roads are not designed to include pedestrian traffic, walkers and bikers must be careful to avoid pedestrian accidents.

A report on American transportation safety was recently released by Transportation for America, a non-profit organization that advocates for transportation reform, based on information gathered in the 2010 U.S. Census. According to ABC News, the report states that nearly 50,000 people were killed and almost 700,000 were injured in crashes between pedestrians and motor vehicles from 2000 to 2009. These statistics reveal that, on average, a pedestrian is hit by a car every seven minutes in the U.S.

In addition, ABC News reports that, while the number of car drivers or passengers fatally injured in car accidents has decreased recently, pedestrian deaths have increased in America's 15 largest cities. In California, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ontario are ranked as the fifth most dangerous cities for pedestrians in the country. Metropolitan areas across Florida comprise the remaining four most dangerous places for pedestrians in the U.S.

To help walkers across the nation and in California stay safe on the roads, the University of North Carolina offers these pedestrian safety tips:

  • Use sidewalks when possible; if no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic
  • Cross streets at crosswalks and with the traffic signal
  • Wear bright and reflective colors and use a flashlight at night
  • Make eye contact with drivers before traveling in front of their cars
  • Be especially careful near multiple-lane, high-speed roads

Source: Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities for Pedestrians in Florida, California