Report Finds Pedestrians at Risk in West Virginia

A new report says unsafe street and road designs are putting West Virginia pedestrians at risk.

The report by Transportation for America ranks West Virginia 24th nationally for pedestrian risk.

From 2000 to 2009, 237 pedestrians were killed in the state, a fatality rate of 1.3 deaths per 100,000 residents. The national rate is 1.6 deaths per 100,000 residents.

McDowell County’s 3.22 deaths per 100,000 residents was the highest fatality rate among West Virginia’s counties during the period. The Charleston metropolitan area led metro areas with 1.8 deaths per 100,000 residents.

West Virginia Citizen Action executive director Gary Zuckett says communities are working to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety. But he says they need financial help from the federal government to implement such projects.