Urban Streetscape Design and Crash Severity

Streetscape design is increasingly acknowledged as a tool for improving traffic safety and livability in urban settings. While traditional highway safety engineering promotes removing obstacles from and widening roadside clear zones to reduce collision potential, a contrasting framework proposes that smaller, more enclosed streetscapes may encourage slower, less risky driving and therefore improve both livability and safety. Such a strategy may have particular relevance along urban arterials, where large clear zones may be impractical because of complex adjacent land uses and where the promotion of livable spaces is an increasing focus. This study examined streetscape design and traffic safety in urban settings by assessing relationships between crash severity and streetscape design variables in New York City. A method based on a geographic information system was used for the precise capture of streetscape design measurements at the locations of more than 240,000 crashes. Logistic regression models indicated that crashes on smaller, more enclosed streetscapes were less likely to result in injury or death compared with those on larger, more open streetscapes. These results point to in-fill development and street tree planting as safety countermeasures that are consistent with additional livability goals such as walkability, high-quality design of the public realm, and provision of natural amenities.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2500-01
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/main/blurbs/173967.aspx
• Authors:
  • Harvey, Chester
  • 0000-0002-5884-8317
  • Aultman-Hall, Lisa
• Publication Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1–8
• Monograph Title: Planning, Volume 2
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2500
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash injuries; Crash severity; Highway design; Land use; Quality of life; Streetscape; Traffic safety; Urban areas
• Geographic Terms: New York (New York)
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01551974
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309369558
• Report/Paper Numbers: 15-2942
• Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 29 2015 9:18AM