An Analysis of Factors Contributing to "Walking Along Roadway" Crashes: Research Study and Guidelines for Sidewalks and Walkways

Federal Highway Administration2002PDFTech ReportMcMahon, P. J.Zegeer, Charles V.Duncan, ChandlerKnoblauch, Richard L.Stewart, J. RichardKhattak, Asad J.United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Safety Research and DevelopmentUniversity of North Carolina. Highway Safety Research CenterEsse, Carol TanDo, AnnUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Safety Research and DevelopmentUnited StatesPedestrian safetyPedestrian-vehicle crashesSidewalksGuidelinesSafetyTraffic modelsSafety factorsGeometric designHuman factors engineeringPedestrian crashesSidewalksGuidelinesSafetyModelingPhysical design factorsNon-geometric factorsFHWA-RD-01-101DTFH61-92-C-00138Esse, Carol Tan;Do, AnnContracting Officer\u2019s Technical Representative (COTRs): Carol Tan Esse and Ann Do, HRDSThere 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.96