WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS?

AGAINST ALL OTHER TYPES OF TRAFFIC THE PEDESTRIAN COMES OUT SECOND BEST IN ANY CONFLICT. WHETHER THE ACCIDENT INVOLVES TRAIN, STREET-CAR, AUTOMOBILE, OR BICYCLE IT IS THE PEDESTRIAN WHO SUFFERS INJURY OR DEATH. WE MUST INCREASE PEDETRIAN RECOGNITION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS OWN SAFETY WITHOUT REDUCING THE DRIVER'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION. EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS MUST BE DIRECTED PARTICULARLY AT NON-DRIVERS OF ALL CLASSES AND, ESPECIALLY, THROUGH THE AGENCIES WHICH REACH PERSONS OF THE LOWER SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CLASSES. OTHER SERIOUS PEDESTRIAN PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE PROTECTION OF ELDERLY PERSONS IN TRAFFIC, AND THE MENACE OF PEDESTRIANS UNDER ALCOHOLIC INFLUENCE. IT IS FURTHER BELIEVED THAT A HIGH DEGREE OF PEDESTRIAN OBEDIENCE TO STOP AND GO SIGNALS MUST BE EVOLVED. THE NIGHT ACCIDENT PROBLEM IS TO QUITE AN EXTENT A PEDESTRIAN PROBLEM. MODERN STREET LIGHTING ADEQUATE FOR TRANSPORTATION PROTECTION IS NOT A LUXURY BUT A NECESSITY. CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS OF PHYSICAL PROTECTION FOR PEDESTRIANS. TOO OFTEN THESE ADVANTAGES ARE DISREGARDED BY THE PERSONS WHOM THEY ARE INTENDED TO PROTECT. OFTEN, TOO, THEIR ADVANTAGES ARE FRUSTRATED BY THE CARELESS CONSIDERATION OF DRIVERS. /AUTHOR/

• Record URL:
  https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrbproceedings/18/18Part1-039.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 18, Pt 1, PP 387-394. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Reeder, E J
  • Morrison, R L
  • Conner, C N
  • Marsh, B W
• Publication Date: 1939

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Monograph Title: Proceedings of the Eighteenth Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board Held at Washington, D.C. November 28-December 2, 1938. Part I
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Proceedings
  • Volume: 18
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohols; Lighting; Night; Pedestrian safety; Pedestrian vehicle crashes; Pedestrians; Safety education; Traffic regulations
• Uncontrolled Terms: Traffic laws
• Old TRIS Terms: Pedestrian protection
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Law; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00221015
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 1 1971 12:00AM