Why Pedestrian Safety is a Social Justice Issue

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control analyzing America's last decade of traffic-related pedestrian deaths reveals the inequitable impacts of the country's "public health epidemic."

1 minute read

May 12, 2013, 7:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj

Timothy Takemoto / Flickr

In addition to the sobering finding that 47,392 pedestrians were killed on American roadways between 2000-2010, the CDC found that in 2010, "the per capita pedestrian fatality rate in America was more than double the rate in the UK and Germany."

Perhaps the most interesting insight from the report, however, is on "the social dimensions of this public health epidemic."

"Not everyone is affected equally by dangerous walking conditions in America," says Angie Schmitt, in summarizing the report's findings. "Elderly and minority populations are at the greatest risk, researchers found, while men of all demographics were two-and-a-half times more likely than women to be killed by a car while walking."

FULL STORY: The Inequitable Toll of Pedestrian Deaths

Tuesday, May 7, 2013 in DC.Streetsblog

Social / Demographics Transportation United States Pedestrian Safety Pedestrian Fatalities Social Justice View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.