Seattle is the safest U.S. city for pedestrians, according to a new study released by Liberty Mutual Insurance that ranks America's 15 safest pedestrian cities based on city statistics and residents' and commuters' perceptions of safety.
With more than 108,000 residents commuting on foot or by public transportation each day, Seattle has fewer than 10 pedestrian fatalities each year. Liberty Mutual said that these statistics likely were the result of a number of safety programs the city has put in place in recent years, including the “Safest Route to School” program (which added 501 new crosswalks, improved school walking routes, and school zone speed cameras) and the “Be Super Safe” campaign (aimed at eliminating dangerous driving behaviors).
Liberty Mutual found that 96 percent of Seattle residents surveyed reporting feeling that the city was safe for pedestrians and 97 percent said that the city was proactive in ensuring pedestrian safety.
“We are seeing a dangerously high rate of pedestrian injuries and fatalities across the country, so it's promising to see cities like Seattle dedicating the necessary resources to ensure the safety of their citizens,” said David Melton, managing director of global safety and driving safety expert with Liberty Mutual Insurance. He said that the goal of the company's study was “to recognize the U.S. cities that are taking exceptional measures to keep their streets safe and to help others across the country learn from those best practices.”
The top 15 safest U.S. cities for pedestrians, according to the study, are:
1. Seattle, Wash.
2. Boston, Mass.
3. Washington, D.C.
4. San Francisco, Calif.
5. New York, N.Y.
6. Portland, Ore.
7. Pittsburgh, Pa.
8. Minneapolis, Minn.
9. Chicago, Ill.
10. Atlanta, Ga.
11. Denver, Colo.
12. Philadelphia, Pa.
13. Baltimore, Md.
14. Columbus, Ohio
15. Los Angeles, Calif.
Learn more: www.libertymutual.com/pedestriansafety.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].