A recent study has revealed that Tucson/Pima County has some of the most dangerous streets in the United States. Tucson ranks as the third-most deadly metro area for pedestrians, trailing only Memphis and Albuquerque.
From 2013 to 2022, the Tucson metro area experienced 322 pedestrian deaths. Alarmingly, 67% of these deaths occurred between 2018 and 2022, indicating a significant rise in recent years.
Addressing this surge in fatalities may become a primary focus for the newly established Office of Injury and Violence Prevention within the Pima County Health Department. This office, which also tackles issues such as gun violence and drug abuse, is investigating why the roadways are so perilous for pedestrians.
“Just over 75% of the deaths in the past year involved people crossing outside the crosswalk,” said Mark Person, a Program Manager for Community Mental Health and Addiction.
While drug-related deaths remain the top priority for the new office, pedestrian fatalities are closely linked. Data suggests a strong correlation between the two.
“Seventy-five percent of these incidents involve individuals who are either under the influence or potentially under the influence, which is a factor we cannot ignore,” Person noted.
This raises critical questions: Has an increase in drug use led to more inattentive pedestrians? Or are other factors at play, such as higher driving speeds, distracted driving, or a rise in the homeless population leading to more people walking in the streets?
The new office aims to collect data to assist policymakers in addressing these issues. “Our goal is to make this data and its trends visible to the public and ensure that those working on these problems can use the information to drive action,” Person explained.
For example, two teenage pedestrians were killed attempting to cross Interstate 10 in Marana last year. In response, the new office has convened traffic engineers, public safety officials, and the town of Marana to discuss preventive measures.
“Young people often struggle with assessing risk; they are natural risk-takers,” Person said. “We aim to provide education to help people understand these risks.”
However, education alone may not suffice. Physical measures like fencing or barriers might also be necessary to reduce these risks.
Another potential factor is the growing homeless population, which might be contributing to pedestrian deaths. Although the data is not conclusive, it warrants further investigation.
“Between 30% and 35% of the deceased were homeless,” Person said. “This is a significant number, but there are many factors beyond homelessness contributing to these fatalities.”
