WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsWhy is Chattanooga Dangerous for Pedestrians?

Why is Chattanooga Dangerous for Pedestrians?

CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) - Ppeople who walk around Downtown Chattanooga are used to looking for the walking sign. It's a critical way to keep you safe especially as you walk busy intersections like the one along Market Street in the Southside.

Overall, Chattanooga ranks third in the state behind Memphis and Johnson City comparing pedestrian deaths to overall population.

The group Transportation for America organized the study. It shows Chattanooga with 12 pedestrian deaths in 2008.

John Van Winkle, a city traffic engineer, says the city has taken several measures to keep streets safer including a requirement that all new neighborhoods include sidewalks. The city has also installed yellow flashers along Market Street that only light up when a person is crossing the road.  

Winkle says that pedestrian safety will be part of the new driver's education classes the city is offering. They're hoping to get approval from the city council on Tuesday to begin the classes. If they get it, the classes will start by the middle of the month.

 That student driver education program will be funded with collections from red light and speed cams. Students who live inside the city and meet the free lunch criteria will qualify. 

They'll be asked to pay $50 toward the driver ed program, but the city will pick up the remaining $350.

But not everyone follows them. A new study released to Channel 3 on Monday shows the risk factors are greatest for people who walk to work in Chattanooga. In fact, it's 33 percent higher than the national average. State-wide we rank number two behind Memphis when it comes to a risky walk to work.