Is Bensonhurst Safe For Pedestrians?

For the second time in a row, a pedestrian safety survey found Florida to be the most dangerous state in the union for pedestrians.

The same survey ranks the New York metropolitan area as one of the safest. Which begs the question, how safe is our neighborhood?

Earlier this year, the Tri-state Transportation Campaign mapped their records of pedestrian fatalities from the years 2007 to 2009, by borough and county, on Google Maps. An isolated map of Bensonhurst is above.

The first thing you need to know about this map is that it’s color coded. Children are green, adults between 16 and 59 years old are blue and seniors over 60 are purple.

As you can see, just about every fatality in Bensonhurst involves a senior citizen, which might be explained by an aging population.

One look at the fatality map for Brooklyn tells me that overall, our area is a pretty safe place to walk. The most pedestrian deaths seem to happen in the central and eastern parts of our borough, with many occurring along Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue.

How do you feel about Bensonhurst drivers? Do you feel safe crossing the street? What’s the most dangerous intersection near you?