Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

1-2011

Abstract

This study examined the correlates of injury severity using police records of pedestrian-motor-vehicle collisions on state routes and city streets in King County, Washington. Levels of influence on collision outcome considered (1) the characteristics of individual pedestrians and drivers and their actions; (2) the road environment; and (3) the neighborhood environment. Binary logistic regressions served to estimate the risk of a pedestrian being severely injured or dying versus suffering minor or no injury. Significant individual-level influences on injury severity were confirmed for both types of roads: pedestrians being older or younger; the vehicle moving straight on the roadway. New variables associated with increased risk of severe injury or death included: having more than two pedestrians involved in a collision; and on city streets, the driver being inebriated. Road intersection design was significant only in the state route models, with pedestrians crossing at intersections without signals increasing the risk of being injured or dying. Adjusting for pedestrians' and drivers' characteristics and actions, neighborhood medium home values and higher residential densities increased the risk of injury or death. No other road or neighborhood environment variable remained significant, suggesting that pedestrians were not safer in areas with high pedestrian activity.

Keywords

Pedestrian, Injury, Fatality, Collisions, State routes, City streets, GIS

Discipline

Public Health

Research Areas

Integrative Research Areas

Publication

Accident Analysis & Prevention

Volume

43

Issue

1

First Page

11

Last Page

24

ISSN

0001-4575

Identifier

10.1016/j.aap.2009.12.008

Publisher

Elsevier

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