The City Council Transportation Committee held a hearing Wednesday to examine efforts to improve safety for pedestrians on city streets.

The city is trying to cut down on the number of pedestrians killed on city busy streets -- the number of deaths went up six percent from 2005 to 2006.

The number of deaths is improvement from a decade ago. In 1997 there were 254 pedestrian deaths, compared to 163 in 2005-2006. The Department of Transportation says it works to protect pedestrians in a number of ways, like narrowing roadways, adjusting traffic signals, and assessing and possibly redesigning intersections where fatal accidents occur.

"One of the things we are going to be doing which we really haven't done before is take look back, and in a much more comprehensive way then we have been able to do in the past look at the entire set of fatality and injury data and try and learn more about what that means about the kind of locations where accidents are happening," said DOT Commissioner David Woloch.

But some committee members and transportation advocates say what is needed is an overall strategy to protect pedestrians everywhere in the city, not just at accident hot spots.

"Job one is for the city to set targets, for example, reducing pedestrian fatalities and injuries by 20 percent," said Paul White of Transportation Alternatives. "It's a very simple target, but that's the kind of goal that can inform policy decisions and can help the city navigate this trade-off between traffic flow and pedestrian safety."

Transportation Alternatives says 10 percent of the city's intersections account for 50 percent of all traffic fatalities.

The committee also heard from family members of those who were lost in accidents. They say more needs to be done to avoid fatalities.

"The DOT is aware of what is happening, and for them to say that they are reducing fatalities and injuries? No, they are not," said James St. John, whose 4-year-old grandson was killed by an SUV on Valentine’s Day.

Thirty-three pedestrians have been killed already this year, and more then 150 pedestrians were fatally struck each of the last two years.

Lawmakers say about 10,000 walkers are injured by cars annually.

"I believe everyone would agree that too many pedestrians are still being killed on the streets of New York City," said City Councilman James Liu.

Some pedestrians NY1 spoke to admitted that they occasionally take chances when crossing the street.

"I jay walk, I cross against the light, and I'm vulnerable to being caught, but I don't think it's any worse than it was 20 years ago," said one pedestrian.

"People don't want to wait that extra minute or two, like me, I want to make this light right now," said another.

Some of the suggestions made to the council include widening sidewalks and getting more money from Albany for red light and speed cameras to catch dangerous drivers.