Mortality risk associated with leaving home: recognizing the relevance of the built environment.
OBJECTIVE
I analyzed traffic fatalities and homicides related to leaving home for routine activities, and considered connections between these fatalities and the built environment.


METHODS
I analyzed city, county, state, and federal data for traffic fatalities and homicides by strangers for 15 metropolitan areas, and classified deaths as occurring in the central city, in inner suburbs, or in outer suburbs (exurbs).


RESULTS
Traffic fatality rates were highest in exurban areas. Combined traffic fatality and homicide-by-stranger rates were higher in some or all outer counties than in central cities or inner suburbs in all of the metropolitan areas studied.


CONCLUSIONS
Traffic fatalities are largely unrecognized as a danger to be factored into residential location decisions. Land use controls that deter sprawl along narrow exurban roads can reduce the mortality risks associated with leaving home.
Lucy
William H
WH
School of Architecture, University of Virginia, PO Box 400122, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA. whl@virginia.edu
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002958:City Planning; D003625:Data Collection; D004779:Environment Design; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D012106:Research; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012449:Safety / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013383:Suburban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*