Dangerous by Design utilizes a Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) that measures how dangerous cities are for pedestrians based on the number of people who are killed in a collision with a motor vehicle while walking in the city. The numbers show a staggering 35.4% increase in pedestrian deaths from 2008 to 2017. These studies find people are not walking more and are only driving slightly more than in the past, so why the enormous increase? A likely cause is the increase in distracted driving car accidents due to drivers’ attention being drawn to their phones and social media accounts and away from the task of driving.

Distracted driving is a leading cause of pedestrian accidents in Miami, but it is not the only reason. Other types of negligence responsible for pedestrian accidents include:

Failure to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at crosswalks
Trying to beat a red light and failing
Turning right on red without checking for pedestrians in the crosswalk
Exiting parking lots or alleyways into traffic without looking for pedestrians on the sidewalk
Whipping around a car that has stopped in traffic to allow a pedestrian to cross
Driving the car onto the sidewalk due to loss of vehicle control, mechanical failure, a medical emergency or drunk driving
Unsafe behavior by pedestrians impaired by alcohol
Pedestrians who are jaywalking in the middle of the street or crossing against the light
Sidewalk obstructions or construction work that forces pedestrians into the street