Mara Chagas Diogenes

Association Between Roadway Intersection Characteristics and Pedestrian Crash Risk in Alameda County, California

Each year from 1998 to 2007, an average of approximately 4,800 pedestrians were killed and 71,000 pedestrians were injured in traffic crashes in the United States. Because many pedestrian crashes occur at roadway intersections, it is important to understand the intersection characteristics that are associated with pedestrian crash risk. The present study uses detailed pedestrian crash data and pedestrian volume estimates to analyze the pedestrian crash risk at 81 intersections along arterial and collector roadways in Alameda County, California. The analysis compares pedestrian crash rates (the number of crashes per 10,000,000 pedestrian crossings) with intersection characteristics. In addition, more than 30 variables were considered for use in the development of a statistical model of the number of pedestrian crashes reported at each study intersection from 1998 to 2007. After the pedestrian and motor vehicle volumes at each intersection were accounted for, negative binomial regression showed that significantly more pedestrian crashes occurred at intersections with more right-turn-only lanes, more nonresidential driveways within 50 ft (15 m), more commercial properties within 0.1 mi (161 m), and a greater percentage of residents within 0.25 mi (402 m) who were younger than age 18 years. Raised medians on both intersecting streets were associated with lower numbers of pedestrian crashes. These results, viewed in combination with other research findings, can be used by practitioners to design safer intersections for pedestrians. This exploratory study also provides a methodological framework for future pedestrian safety studies.

Pedestrian Counting Methods at Intersections: A Comparative Study

Resources for implementing countermeasures to reduce pedestrian collisions in urban centers are usually allocated on the basis of need, which is determined by risk studies. Risk studies commonly rely on the determination of pedestrian volumes at intersections. The methods used to estimate pedestrian volumes include direct counts and surveys, but few studies have addressed the accuracy of these methods. This paper investigates the accuracy of three common counting methods: manual counts with sheets, manual counts with clickers, and manual counts with video cameras. The counts took place in San Francisco, California. For the analysis, the counts obtained with video images were assumed to represent the actual pedestrian volumes. The video recordings were made at the same time as the clicker and sheet counts. The results indicate that manual counts with either sheets or clickers systematically underestimated pedestrian volumes. The error rates ranged from 8% to 25%. Additionally, the error rates were greater at the beginning and at the end of the observation period, possibly because of the observers lack of familiarity with the tasks or fatigue.

Evaluation of Pedestrian Safety at Midblock Crossings, Porto Alegre, Brazil:

This paper proposes a method to evaluate the potential risk of pedestrian crashes at midblock crossings, which can be applied in developing countries. The method is quantitative because it uses modeling techniques to represent the relationship of risk factors with the occurrence of pedestrian crashes. Application of the method described here comprised the analysis of reported pedestrian crashes in the city of Porto Alegre, in southern Brazil, between 1998 and 2006, and the identification of midblock crossings with the highest number of pedestrian crashes. Twenty-one midblock crosswalks were selected for evaluation. A Poisson regression model was developed to relate pedestrian crashes to the prevailing operational and physical characteristics of midblock crossings. The results indicate that pedestrian crash risk is influenced by a combination of interactive risk factors, such as the presence of busways and bus stops, the road width, the number of traffic lanes, and the volume of pedestrians and vehicles.

Indicators to Evaluate Road Safety Actions Promoted by a Nongovernmental Organization

Road safety is of utmost concern to many sectors of society. It is now common to find both public and private organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) implementing actions to prevent road collisions and reduce their severity. However, little is known about the effectiveness of unconventional actions for the improvement of road safety. The literature suggests the use of performance indicators to monitor the results of actions and help in the decision-making process. The objective of this paper is to show how performance assessment can be inserted into the context of road safety by proposing road safety indicators for an NGO operating in Brazil. This NGO promotes activities related to road safety education, particularly for young people. This work can be used as an aid for setting up indicators for similar road safety organizations operating in other countries.