Deadliest Areas For Pedestrians: Sarasota-Bradenton Ranks No. 6

SARASOTA, FL — The Sarasota-Bradenton-North Port area is the sixth most dangerous metro area for pedestrians in the United States, according to data compiled in the Dangerous by Design 2021 report, an initiative of Smart Growth America.

The report compiles the number of people who have been struck and killed nationwide and ranks the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S. by pedestrian fatalities and a Pedestrian Danger Index.

At No. 6 on the list, the Sarasota-Bradenton-North Port area has 199 pedestrian fatalities recorded between 2010 and 2019. That averages to 2.5 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people, according to the data.

The region also has a PDI of 248. In the last Dangerous by Design report, released in 2019, Sarasota-Bradenton-North Port had a slightly lower PDI of 234.6.

Florida is also the most dangerous state for pedestrians. The state recorded 5,893 pedestrian fatalities from 2010 to 2019, averaging 2.8 deaths per 100,000 people. It also has a PDI of 201.4.

Seven metro areas in the Sunshine State also made the top 10 list of deadliest regions. In addition to Sarasota-Bradenton-North Port, other metro areas in the top 10 dangerous areas for pedestrians across the country are:

1. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida: 740 total fatalities; 3 deaths per 100,000 people; Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) of 295
2. Bakersfield, California: 260 total fatalities; 2.9 deaths per 100,000 people; PDI of 293
3. Memphis, Tennessee (including portions of Mississippi and Arkansas in the greater metro area): 350 total fatalities; 2.6 deaths per 100,000 people; PDI of 261
4. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida: 168 total fatalities; 2.9 deaths per 100,000 people; PDI of 260.9
5. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida: 235 total fatalities; 3.6 deaths per 100,000 people; PDI of 260
6. Sarasota-Bradenton-North Port, Florida: 199 total fatalities; 2.5 deaths per 100,000 people; PDI of 248
7. Jackson, Mississippi: 128 total fatalities; 2.1 deaths per 100,000 people; PDI of 237.8
8. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida: 968 total fatalities; 3.1 deaths per 100,000 people; PDI of 222.9
9. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida: 162 total fatalities; 2.4 deaths per 100,000 people; PDI of 214.6
10. Jacksonville, Florida: 462 total fatalities; 3.1 deaths per 100,000 people; PDI of 204.7

The complete rankings for 100 metro areas can be found online here.

The authors of the report will discuss the 2021 findings in a virtual discussion Thursday, March 25 from 2 to 3 p.m. Register for the webinar here.