Santa Cruz Named as The Most Dangerous Region for Pedestrians

November 11, 2009

California - Santa Cruz has the highest percentage of pedestrian deaths among other regions in the state based on population, according to a study conducted by two transport groups.

In a study, Dangerous By Design: Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths, the county is dangerous to walkers as it lacks sidewalk segments, foot bridges, and architectural design that will allow pedestrians to safely cross the streets.

However, the lack of safe road designs is not the only problem in the region.

Zach Friend, spokesman for the Santa Cruz police department, said they frequently receive phone calls about drivers who fail to reduce their speed despite encountering a pedestrian lane.

“The safety of pedestrians is still an issue since drivers and bicyclists are still not yielding to the right-of-way of walkers”, Friend said.

Friend also said the county lacks budget to improve the road safety design for pedestrians as the local government and the police department focus on more pressing issues like gang violence.

According to police record, the county has one pedestrian fatality this year.

Meanwhile, Bakersfield was named as the most dangerous city for pedestrians in California with 39 reported deaths in 2008.

Other cities that were named as the most dangerous for pedestrians were Stockton, Fresno, Redding, Ontario, Riverside, and San Bernardino.

The report also shows that the risk of being hit by cars in California is slightly higher compared to other states in the country.

The Transportation for America and the Surface Transportation Policy Workshop sponsored the study to encourage both local and state governments to allot more funds for road safety projects to reduce injuries and deaths among pedestrians.