Understanding the risks on America's deadliest road

🚶‍♂️ US-19 in New Port Richey, Florida is the most dangerous place for pedestrians in the US.

🛣️ Urban planners identified 60 pedestrian fatality hotspots, with US-19 ranking at the top.

👥 Pedestrian fatalities have been increasing due to road infrastructure that prioritizes cars over pedestrians.

🚦 Speed is a crucial factor in pedestrian safety, with higher speeds increasing the risk of fatality.

🚗 US-19 is a dangerous road with fast-moving traffic and a speed limit of 45 mph.

🛣️ The design of the road, including its width and number of lanes, contributes to the high number of pedestrian fatalities.

🚗 US-19 is a straight road that encourages fast driving with no curves.

🏢 The businesses along US-19 are mainly car-oriented, with big box stores and strip malls located far from the road.

⚠️ Arterial roads like US-19, with car-centric designs and limited pedestrian access, contribute to a higher number of pedestrian deaths.

Walking along US-19 is a common and cheaper alternative to driving.

Pedestrians face dangers such as accidents and verbal assaults on a daily basis.

The lack of crosswalks forces pedestrians to take risky actions like jaywalking.

🚦 Jaywalking was introduced in the early 1900s to shame people for crossing streets, which had been socially acceptable.

🚗 Sidewalk interruptions by parking lots create more opportunities for pedestrians to interact with moving cars.

⏳ Waiting at a crosswalk incentivizes pedestrians to cross before the signal.

🚧 Many hot spot roadways require pedestrians to cross five or more lanes, which is dangerous.

🌃 Crossing roads becomes more treacherous in low-light conditions.

👥 The concept of safety in numbers suggests that increased pedestrian presence improves safety.

🚶‍♀️ The lack of pedestrians along US-19 contributes to the high number of fatalities.

💰 Neighborhoods with lower median household income experience more pedestrian fatalities due to bad street design.

🚧 Improving pedestrian design, such as adding crosswalks and reducing speed limits, can make walking safer.

🚗🚶‍♂️ Creating a built environment that encourages more people to walk and slows down drivers can save lives.

⚠️ Sprawling development is known to be dangerous and we should move towards safer alternatives.

📢 Reporter Marin Cogan's story has raised awareness about pedestrian safety along this deadly stretch of road.