NTL Record

Title An Analysis of Factors Contributing to "Walking Along Roadway" Crashes: Research Study and Guidelines for Sidewalks and Walkways
Record ID 75032
Personal Name
Creator
McMahon, P. J.; Zegeer, Charles V.; Duncan, Chandler; Knoblauch, Richard L.; Stewart, J. Richard; Khattak, Asad J.
Personal Name
Contributor
Esse, Carol Tan; Do, Ann
Corporate Creator United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Safety Research and Development
Corporate
Contributor
University of North Carolina. Highway Safety Research Center
Publisher United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Safety Research and Development
Publication Date 20020201
Language English
Abstract There are a variety of factors widely acknowledged to have an impact on the risk of pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes. The factors that have been most extensively researched are the geometric characteristics of the road, including the presence of sidewalks. However, in relevant epidemiological research, factors related to demographics and neighborhood characteristics have been alluded to, but not sufficiently researched. This study uses a case-control methodology and applies conditional and binary logistic models to determine the effects of cross-sectional roadway design attributes and socioeconomic and other census block group data on the likelihood that a site is a crash site. A total of 47 crash sites and 94 comparison sites are analyzed. Physical design factors found to be associated with a significantly higher likelihood of being a crash site are higher traffic volume, higher speed limit, the lack of wide grassy walkable areas, and the absence of sidewalks. When these roadway factors are controlled for, non-geometric factors associated with a significantly higher likelihood of being a crash site are high levels of unemployment, older housing stock, lower proportions of families within households, and more single-parent households. This information suggests that some neighborhoods, due to increased exposure or specific types of exposure, may be especially appropriate sites for pedestrian safety measures such as sidewalks, lower speed roadway designs, and the addition of wide grassy shoulders. This report also documents the results of a behavioral evaluation of a new sidewalk in SeaTac, Washington (Appendix A). Recommended guidelines and priorities for sidewalks and walkways are given in Appendix B.
Public Note Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTRs): Carol Tan Esse and Ann Do, HRDS
Rosap ID dot:50265
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/50265
TRT Terms Pedestrian safety; Pedestrian-vehicle crashes; Sidewalks; Guidelines; Safety; Traffic models; Safety factors; Geometric design; Human factors engineering
General Subjects Pedestrian crashes; Sidewalks; Guidelines; Safety; Modeling; Physical design factors; Non-geometric factors
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
929270
Contract Number DTFH61-92-C-00138
Report Number FHWA-RD-01-101
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/75000/75000/75032/FHWA-RD-01-101.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository