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Dive into the research topics where Meghan Fehlig Mitman is active.

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Featured researches published by Meghan Fehlig Mitman.


Transportation Research Record | 2008

The Marked Crosswalk Dilemma: Uncovering Some Missing Links in a 35-Year Debate

Meghan Fehlig Mitman; David R. Ragland; Charles Zegeer

Largely in response to several landmark safety studies, as an official or unofficial policy, many agencies across the U.S. have elected to remove marked crosswalks at uncontrolled intersections, or have shown resistance to installing them in the first place. This approach results in unacceptable pedestrian mobility restrictions, yet such restrictions are often not considered in policy-making. As such, there is a need for roadway system owners to develop strategic safety guidelines to address the marked crosswalk dilemma.


Transportation Research Record | 2012

Development and Application of a Pedestrian Volume Model in San Francisco, California

Robert J. Schneider; Todd Henry; Meghan Fehlig Mitman; Laura Stonehill; Jesse Koehler

The process of modeling pedestrian volume in San Francisco, California, refined the methodology used to develop previous intersection-based models and incorporated variables that were tailored to estimate walking activity in the local urban context. The methodology included two main steps. First, manual and automated pedestrian counts were taken at a sample of 50 study intersections with a variety of characteristics. A series of factor adjustments was applied to produce an estimate of annual pedestrian crossings at each intersection. Second, log-linear regression modeling was used to identify statistically significant relationships between the estimate of annual pedestrian volume and land use, transportation system, local environment, and socioeconomic characteristics near each intersection. Twelve alternative models were considered, and the preferred model had a good overall fit (adjusted R2 = .804). As identified in other communities, pedestrian volumes were positively associated with the number of households and the number of jobs near each intersection. This San Francisco model also found significantly higher pedestrian volumes at intersections (a) in high-activity zones with metered on-street parking, (b) in areas with fewer hills, (c) near university campuses, and (d) under the control of traffic signals. Because the model was based on a relatively small sample of intersections, the number of significant factors was limited to six. Results are being used by public agencies in San Francisco to understand the risks of pedestrian crossings better and to inform citywide pedestrian safety policy and investment.


Transportation Research Record | 2007

Crosswalk Confusion: More Evidence Why Pedestrian and Driver Knowledge of the Vehicle Code Should Not Be Assumed

Meghan Fehlig Mitman; David R. Ragland

Traffic safety researchers have long argued that driver behavior outweighs physical elements (such as road design) as a causal factor in motor vehicle collisions. A fundamental causal component of pedestrian-vehicle collisions is also behavior: that of the driver and that of the pedestrian. One determinant of this behavior may be whether the driver, the pedestrian, or both understand the motor vehicle code, which demarcates the right-of-way in pedestrian-vehicle interactions. That is, inappropriate or unlawful behavior may occur because the law is not understood or is misunderstood. Previous studies have shown that drivers and pedestrians have a limited knowledge of pedestrian right-of-way laws. This research expands on these studies by specifically considering knowledge of right-of-way laws related to marked and unmarked crosswalks. Driver and pedestrian knowledge was assessed by the use of intercept surveys and focus groups conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. The results confirm that a substantial level of confusion about pedestrian right-of-way laws exists. This confusion was exacerbated by intersections that had unstriped, or unmarked, crosswalks. The implications for engineering, education, and enforcement countermeasures in light of these findings are discussed; and areas for further research are proposed.


Transportation Research Record | 2010

Driver and pedestrian behavior at uncontrolled crosswalks in Tahoe Basin recreation area of California.

Meghan Fehlig Mitman; Douglas L Cooper; Brooke DuBose

For more than 30 years, pedestrian safety studies have considered pedestrian–vehicle collision patterns and pedestrian and driver behavior at marked and unmarked crosswalks at uncontrolled crossings. Recent research in this area, conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, Traffic Safety Center on behalf of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), was designed to fill key gaps in the literature by analyzing driver and pedestrian behavior and knowledge of right-of-way laws for marked and unmarked crosswalks. The Caltrans study, as with most previous crosswalk studies, focused on urban and suburban areas (in this case, the San Francisco, California, Bay Area), where driver and pedestrian characteristics do not change significantly from day to day. After this study came the recognition that similar research was needed in rural and recreational locations, where the population frequently changes. As such, this paper summarizes results from field observations of driver and pedestrian behavior at marked and unmarked crosswalks at uncontrolled crossings during the summer in the Tahoe Basin of California. This study, also funded by Caltrans, concludes that the behavior trends identified in the study of urban and suburban areas in the Bay Area are largely similar in a rural and recreational context. This finding is significant for Caltrans, a statewide agency that is seeking to provide a consistent crosswalk installation and treatment policy for its facilities across California. Other regional and state agencies may similarly benefit from the findings of the study.


Transportation Research Record | 2010

Empirical bayesian evaluation of safety effects of high-visibility school (yellow) crosswalks in San Francisco, California.

Mark Feldman; Jessica Greig Manzi; Meghan Fehlig Mitman

The empirical Bayesian method, currently the industry standard for before-and-after collision analysis, was used to perform post hoc tests on the efficacy of high-visibility school (yellow, continental-style) crosswalks in the city of San Francisco, California. Statistical analysis compared the number of collisions predicted for the after period had the enhanced crosswalks not been installed with the number of collisions observed. The analysis used data for 54 treated intersections with high-visibility crosswalks and 54 control intersections, each chosen for its geographical proximity to a treated intersection. The results from this analysis suggest a statistically significant reduction in the numbers of collisions at the intersections with high-visibility crosswalks. The estimated reduction is 37%, with the 95% confidence interval ranging from 13% to 60%. Potential limitations of this analysis, including a constant traffic volume input over time and a background reduction in collisions citywide, are discussed. In addition to the safety benefit attributable to high-visibility crosswalk markings, high-visibility crosswalks likely contribute to a sense of pedestrian comfort and overall design amenity. Future studies would enhance these results by evaluating other factors that may affect pedestrian safety at school crosswalks, such as changes in driver or pedestrian behavior and increased awareness of crosswalks and pedestrian activity.


Safe Transportation Research & Education Center | 2008

Driver/Pedestrian Understanding and Behavior at Marked and Unmarked Crosswalks

Meghan Fehlig Mitman; David R. Ragland


Archive | 2013

Development and Application of the San Francisco Pedestrian Intersection Volume Model

Robert J. Schneider; Todd Henry; Meghan Fehlig Mitman; Laura Stonehill; Jesse Koehler


Safe Transportation Research & Education Center | 2007

What They Don’t Know Can Kill Them

Meghan Fehlig Mitman; David R. Ragland


Archive | 2007

What They Don't Know Can Kill Them More Evidence on Why Pedestrian and Driver Knowledge of the Vehicle Code Should Not Be Assumed

Meghan Fehlig Mitman


Safe Transportation Research & Education Center | 2010

Driver and Pedestrian Behavior at Uncontrolled Crosswalks in the Tahoe Basin Recreation Area

Meghan Fehlig Mitman; Douglas L Cooper; Brooke DuBose

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Charles Zegeer

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Swati Pande

University of California

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