you can get killed almost exactly as easily on a bike with brakes in, depending on your skill and awareness, 95% of situations. Actually, you know what? **** that. 99% of situations.

When you have less skill that number drops to about 40%, and the majority of situations become "You just did that thing that you didn't know what you were doing all the way under that bus" type situations.

What I'm saying is that ANY bike can kill you. the best bike for you probably won't. If you're just starting to ride fixed, you need a brake. If you value your own life, you probably need a brake. If you never put yourself near danger, you just should have a brake.