The Deadliest Metro Areas: Little Rock’s Rise to Danger
A recent study by Smart Growth America, titled “Dangerous by Design 2024,” highlights a disturbing rise in pedestrian fatalities in many U.S. metro areas. The study’s ranking of the deadliest metro areas brings concerning news for residents of Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Conway, Arkansas.
The Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metro area has vaulted to 10th place in the ranking of the deadliest metro areas for pedestrians. This spike in pedestrian death rates is part of a nationwide trend, as 82% of U.S. metro areas have become deadlier for pedestrians over time. Little Rock’s shift from a fatality rate of 1.7 to 3.63 between the periods of 2013-2017 and 2018-2022 stands out as one of the largest increases among the top ten metro areas.
- During the 2018-2022 period, a total of 136 pedestrian deaths were recorded, an increase of 74 fatalities from the earlier period.
- Most of these pedestrian deaths, 68%, occurred between 2018 and 2022, underscoring the rapid escalation of the problem.
The report emphasizes that the risks of pedestrian death are not uniform across different demographics. It finds that people of color, particularly Black and Native Americans, are disproportionately affected by pedestrian deaths. The data also points to a stark correlation between lower income areas and higher pedestrian death rates.
This metropolitan area’s rankings serve as a stark reminder that pedestrian safety is not limited by geographic borders, as cities across the country are grappling with similar issues. The challenge now lies in understanding the systemic causes of these trends and working towards safer, more inclusive urban designs that prioritize pedestrian safety for all.
