Changing the Future? Development and Application of Pedestrian Safety Performance Functions to Prioritize Locations in Seattle, Washington

This study aimed to use robust analysis methods to identify and screen locations at risk for pedestrian crashes and injuries to help Seattle, Washington, a Vision Zero city, broaden treatment priorities beyond only high-crash locations. For this objective, data from the entire network were used to develop safety performance functions (SPFs) for two pedestrian crash types: total pedestrian crashes at intersections (a high frequency type) and a subset of intersection crashes involving through motorists striking crossing pedestrians (a high severity type). Many variables from roadway, built environment, census, and activity measures were tested. A similar but not identical set of variables, including measures of activity and intersection size and complexity, significantly contributed to crash prediction in both models. Pedestrian volume exhibited a curved relationship to crashes and demonstrated a tendency for expected crashes to begin to decline above a threshold value; however, the causes of this relationship were unknown. The SPFs were used in several ranking methods, including SPF-predicted crashes, empirical Bayes estimated crashes, and potential for safety improvement, to aid in prioritization of locations that might have been candidates for safety improvement but that had not necessarily experienced a high frequency of crashes. On the basis of this example, this approach is feasible for jurisdictions that wish to be more proactive in addressing potential crashes and injuries. Jurisdictions must, however, begin routinely collecting the data needed to implement the method efficiently.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2659-23
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309442107
• Authors:
  • Thomas, Libby
  • Lan, Bo
  • Sanders, Rebecca L
  • Frackelton, Alexandra
  • Gardner, Spencer
  • Hintze, Michael
• Publication Date: 2017

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 212–223
• Monograph Title: Statistical Methods and Safety Data and Analysis
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2659
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Intersections; Pedestrian safety; Pedestrian vehicle crashes; Traffic volume
• Identifier Terms: Vision Zero
• Geographic Terms: Seattle (Washington)
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01624848
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309442107
• Report/Paper Numbers: 17-06635
• Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 1 2017 5:14PM