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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PEDESTRIAN CROSSING GUIDELINES IN UTAH - TECHNICAL DOCUMENT

A total of 8,838 pedestrian-vehicle collisions occurred in Utah between 1992 and 2001. An average of 1,037 crashes per year occurred between 1992 and 1996. With the removal of private property incidents from the statewide crash records system, the trend in the annual number of pedestrian-vehicle crashes began to decrease (to 655 in 2001). A total of 91.5% of the collisions occurred in Utah's six urban counties: Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, Washington, and Weber. A total of 335 fatal pedestrian- vehicle crashes occurred between 1992 and 2001; there was no trend in the annual number of fatal incidents, implying that the proportion of crashes that were fatal increased during the study period. Most of the fatal crashes (86.3%) occurred in the urban counties. The 8,838 collisions occurred at 6,610 crash sites; 5,520 of these were single-crash sites, while 1,090 were the scene of multiple crashes. At least one crash occurred in each of Utah's 29 counties, and 49.9% of the sites were in Salt Lake County. There were 613 two- crash, 215 three- crash, 116 four- crash, 59 five- crash, 34 six- crash, 22 seven- crash, 6 eight-crash, and 11 nine- crash sites; in addition, 14 sites were the scene of eleven or more crashes. A sample of 294 crash sites was identified. The selected sites tended to have high "crash severity" scores, based on a system that awarded points ranging from 0.1 for a "no injury" crash to 1,000 for a fatal crash. A total of 980 crashes occurred at the 294 sites. The sampled crashes tended to occur along minor arterials with four through lanes, at signalized intersections during the daytime under clear conditions. The peak month was October, and Friday was the peak day. The peak hour occurred between 5:30 and 6:30 PM; the peak 4-hour period was from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, and the peak 8-hour period was from 2:30 to 10:30 PM. About two-thirds of the sites were visited. Data were collected on the type of traffic control, pedestrian signal times, speed limits, crossing facilities (if any), distances to the nearest marked crossings, sidewalks, nearby transit stops, pavement width (i.e., number of lanes and shoulders), the type of median (if any), adjacent land uses, and lighting. The data were supplemented with information from 27 Police Accident Reports on fatal crashes that occurred during 2000 and 2001. To extend the research, pedestrian activities at 14 intersections having countdown pedestrian indicators (CPIs) and two sites having crossing flags were examined. A total of 987 single or groups of pedestrians were observed at the CPIs. A total of 61% of the pedestrians who arrived after the countdown had started crossed successfully; 25% crossed and were still crossing at CPI = 0, and 14% did not cross. A total of 10% of the pedestrians were violators who crossed against the signal; 4% of the pedestrians did not have enough time to cross despite starting immediately after the walking person appeared. A total of 97 pedestrians were observed at the sites with crossing flags. Of the 77 pedestrians who crossed when motor vehicles were approaching, only 9 (11.7%) used the flags.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 70 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00983505
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: UT-04.02, UTL-0504-75, Final Report
  • Contract Numbers: 53500047
  • Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Dec 13 2004 12:00AM