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Study: L.A. Drivers Kill Pedestrians At Triple The National Average

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — "Nobody walks in L.A." and maybe that's because it's just too dangerous.

A study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute found that L.A. drivers kill pedestrians and bicyclists at a significantly higher rate than drivers nationally, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In the City of Angels, pedestrians make up about a third of all traffic fatalities – triple the national average of 11.4%, the Times reported. The study also found 3% of L.A.'s fatalities are bicyclists, in contrast with the 1.7% national average.

Only one city had worse numbers – New York City, where almost half, or 49.6%, of traffic fatalities are pedestrians and 6.1% were bicyclists.

The study examined data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, California Highway Patrol and New York State Department of Motor Vehicles from 2002 through 2009.

The study's findings come just days after legislation aimed at improving traffic conditions for bicyclists was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown. The legislation, which was rejected Friday, would have required motorists to give bicyclists at least three feet of room while passing, or slow down.

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