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From notorious acts of road rage to street-roaming chickens, South Florida streets are packed with perils for motorists. A new study from accident law firm Gammill Law reveals that three Miami-area cities are among the most deadly tourist destinations for pedestrians. And this is why we can’t have nice things.
The study examined fatal pedestrian crashes in popular United States tourist destinations from 2018 to 2023 to identify the most dangerous cities for pedestrians. Fort Lauderdale had the dubious honor of claiming the No. 1 spot, with West Palm Beach coming in at No. 5, and Miami taking No. 9.
Data showed Fort Lauderdale had about 52 pedestrian-involved crashes per 100,000 residents, outpacing Baltimore (in second place with about 43 crashes per 100,000 residents). West Palm Beach recorded approximately 37 crashes per 100,000 residents, while Miami reported about 33 crashes per 100,000 residents.
Most Dangerous Tourist Destinations for Pedestrians:
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1. Fort Lauderdale: 52.10 crashes per 100,000 residents
2. Baltimore: 43.88 crashes per 100,000 residents
3. Albuquerque: 43.55 crashes per 100,000 residents
4. Myrtle Beach: 40.31 crashes per 100,000 residents
5. West Palm Beach: 37.06 crashes per 100,000 residents
6. Phoenix: 35.57 crashes per 100,000 residents
7. St. Louis: 35.49 crashes per 100,000 residents
8. Detroit: 34.74 crashes per 100,000 residents
9. Miami: 33.34 crashes per 100,000 residents
10. New Orleans: 30.76 crashes per 100,000 residents
“The study found that tourist-heavy cities in the South and Southwest face particularly high pedestrian risks,” according to a news release. “Three of the top ten most dangerous cities are in Florida, while others are spread across regions known for high tourist traffic.”
“The concentration of high-risk areas in Florida should serve as a warning to visiting tourists who might not be familiar with local traffic patterns,” attorney David Gammill added in an emailed statement. “It’s concerning that many of these dangerous areas are places where pedestrian activity is naturally high due to tourism. Visitors often walk between attractions, restaurants, and hotels without realizing they’re in one of the country’s highest-risk zones for pedestrian fatalities.”
Tourists should be extra cautious when visiting high-risk locales, Gammill said, emphasizing Florida, which has three of the ten most dangerous cities. “Simple safety measures like using crosswalks, avoiding walking at night, and staying alert instead of being distracted by phones can make a significant difference.”
Gammill Law looked at the top 50 travel destinations in the U.S. on TripCanvas, a AAA Travel trip-planning website, and used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System to determine which cities are most dangerous for pedestrians.
