Strategies for Improving Pedestrian Safety: Cases from Jalisco and Michoacán, Mexico

In developing countries, the growing use of autos is creating a clash with pedestrians. Pedestrian-vehicle collisions clearly have immediate negative consequences on public health. In the longer run, if walking is not safe, comfortable, and convenient, it is likely to decline as a mode of travel in countries where households and individuals increasingly have the means to choose alternatives. Even so, most people will continue to walk for many trips, and with increasing motorization will be at risk of harm unless the safety and comfort of the walking environment is improved. We use data analysis and field studies to analyze pedestrian safety issues that arise in Morelia, Michoacan and Guadalajara, Jalisco. Analysis of crash data is a critical step in the selection and design of interventions. Currently, only aggregate data are available in electronic format, though more detailed data are available in hard copy. We report analyses of the aggregate data. We also conducted field observations at areas that local experts identified as high crash locations, and these observations allowed us to identify recommended interventions. In particular, better designs could be used to improve pedestrian safety along major arterials: improved pedestrian pathways, pedestrian overpasses, midblock surface crossings, and transit stop designs all are needed. Important next steps will be to create an electronic database combining health records with physical location and police report data, and to conduct more detailed causation analysis using these data. However, the work to date is sufficient to justify planning and design incorporating the recommended measures.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • McAndrews, Carolyn
  • Deakin, Elizabeth
  • De la Rosa, Alfredo Celis
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 87th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2008-1-13 to 2008-1-17
• Date: 2008

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: DVD
• Features: Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: TRB 87th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crashes; Mode choice; Pedestrian safety; Pedestrian vehicle interface; Pedestrians; Planning; Public transit; Transportation modes
• Geographic Terms: Guadalajara (Mexico); Jalisco (Mexico); Michoacan (Mexico); Morelia (Mexico)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01091777
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 08-0981
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 23 2008 11:48AM