A recent report published by Smart Growth America highlights the dangers pedestrians face when walking the streets. In the decade between 2003 and 2012, almost three quarters of a million people were struck by cars in the United States, indicating a pedestrian related traffic accident occurs every eight minutes. Children are especially vulnerable, with pedestrian fatalities being the 3rd leading cause of accidental injury death for individuals under 15. The report provided a ranking of U.S. metropolitan areas by Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI), a comparison of the number of pedestrian fatalities to number of walking commuters.
Houston ranked 7thworst of 51 metropolitan areas examined in the United States. In fact, Houston received a PDI score of 119, much higher than the national average of 52.2. The report relates this problem to the lack of pedestrian friendly environments in “driving cities” in the South. Houstonians, in particular, suffer from a high prevalence of high speed thorough fairs, brief timing of pedestrian walk lights, and limited number of pedestrian crossings. Although the number of child deaths due to pedestrian accidents has decreased in both Houston and the nation as a whole, this trend has been attributed to a general decrease in physical activity rather than an improvement in street safety.
Overall, pedestrian fatalities are on the rise while driving has become safer than ever before. Effecting safer streets might serve to encourage active transportation, promoting healthier lifestyles among youth. According to the report, Boston is the safest city for commuters with a PDI of 19. The city made efforts to improve the pedestrian experience by promoting wider sidewalks, street cafés, transparent store fronts, and public art. While Houston needs to do much more to encourage pedestrian safety, the city has demonstrated a commitment to the issue through its Open Streets program, temporarily closing particular streets to vehicular traffic. This Sunday, two miles of Washington Avenue ending at Market Square Park will be closed, encouraging residents to exercise and explore Houston’s neighborhoods. By continuing programs like this and incorporating pedestrian-friendly elements into street design, the city of Houston can create safer and more vibrant neighborhoods for children.