The Brief
- A new study ranks Tampa, Sarasota and Lakeland as three of the deadliest metros in the country for pedestrian fatalities.
- Florida comes in as the fifth deadliest state overall, the report found.
- The national nonprofit, Smart Growth America, put the report together and argues that roads are dangerous by design, prioritizing vehicle speed and convenience.
TAMPA, Fla. – A recent report on pedestrian safety ranks three Bay Area metros among the deadliest in the nation.
Bay Area pedestrian safety hazards
What we know:
Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition recently released a 2026 study that argues roads are “dangerous by design” and prioritize vehicle speed and convenience.
“And what that means is that you have wide roads with many lanes and few crossings in between,” Heidi Simon of Smart Growth America said. “You have poor visibility, incomplete lighting or sidewalk networks — forcing people to walk in unsafe conditions.”
The report looked at pedestrian fatality rates from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Florida pedestrian fatality data
By the numbers:…