Why has walking become so dangerous?

STPP: Library: "In 2003, 4,827 Americans (11.3 percent of all traffic fatalities) died while crossing the street, walking to school or work, going to a bus stop, or strolling to the grocery, among other daily activities. Over the ten-year period 1994-2003, 51,989 pedestrians have died on U.S. streets."

This is just one part of the report from the Surface Transportation Policy Project's annual Mean Streets report. There is lots of information including results from the state and city level.

Isn't it crazy that walking has become so dangerous? It is something that each one of us should be doing daily, but with the possibility of an SUV mowing you down every time you turn a corner I could see why more people don't do it. Take a walk tomorrow, take back your streets from the gas guzzling SUV's.