Earlier Monday, a familiar but tragic scene at the intersection of Albany Street and Mass. Avenue: police surrounding a vehicle — in this case a Boston University shuttle bus — that had struck and killed a pedestrian.That came just hours after a anthem-and-run the night before in Jamaica Plain that killed a 77-year-old woman and left a 39-year-old woman in critical condition.Despite these tragedies, we found Boston’s record is better than nearly every other city in America.Federal data shows Boston had seven pedestrian fatalities in 2023, which is equal to a pedestrian fatality rate of 1.07 per 100,000 population, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.That’s the second-lowest rate in the country after New York City, which had a rate of 1.03, according to the U.S. DOT. Here’s how some other cities compare:Los Angeles: 3.79Chicago: 1.91Philadelphia: 3.61Washington, D.C.: 2.06Atlanta: 4.5Philadelphia: 3.61Albuquerque, New Mexico, had the highest rate in the country that year: 9.28.The city’s data for 2024 and so far this year show that the number of pedestrian fatalities has exceeded the number from 2023.Five Investigates asked the city of Boston’s Transportation Department for comment but has not heard back.
Earlier Monday, a familiar but tragic scene at the intersection of Albany Street and Mass. Avenue: police surrounding a vehicle — in this case a Boston University shuttle bus — that had struck and killed a pedestrian.
That came just hours after a anthem-and-run the night before in Jamaica Plain that killed a 77-year-old woman and left a 39-year-old woman in critical condition.
Despite these tragedies, we found Boston’s record is better than nearly every other city in America.
Federal data shows Boston had seven pedestrian fatalities in 2023, which is equal to a pedestrian fatality rate of 1.07 per 100,000 population, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
That’s the second-lowest rate in the country after New York City, which had a rate of 1.03, according to the U.S. DOT.
Here’s how some other cities compare:
- Los Angeles: 3.79
- Chicago: 1.91
- Philadelphia: 3.61
- Washington, D.C.: 2.06
- Atlanta: 4.5
- Philadelphia: 3.61
Albuquerque, New Mexico, had the highest rate in the country that year: 9.28.
The city’s data for 2024 and so far this year show that the number of pedestrian fatalities has exceeded the number from 2023.
Five Investigates asked the city of Boston’s Transportation Department for comment but has not heard back.
About the Author
