Pedestrian Safety in Sweden

Pedestrian Safety in Sweden

FHWA-RD-99-091

FOREWORD

Creating improved safety and access for pedestrians requires providing safe places for people to walk, as well as implementing traffic control and design measures which allow for safer street crossings. A study entitled "Evaluation of Pedestrian Facilities" involved evaluating various types of pedestrian facilities and traffic control devices, including pedestrian crossing signs, marked versus unmarked crosswalks, countdown pedestrian signals, illuminated pushbuttons, automatic pedestrian detectors, and traffic calming devices such as curb extensions and raised crosswalks. The study provided recommendations for adding sidewalks to new and existing streets and for using marked crosswalks for uncontrolled locations. The "Evaluation of Pedestrian Facilities" also included synthesis reports of both domestic and international pedestrian safety research. There are five international pedestrian safety synthesis reports; this document compiles the most relevant research from the Scandinavia.

This synthesis report should be of interest to State and local pedestrian and bicycle coordinators, transportation engineers, planners, and researchers involved in the safety and design of pedestrian facilities within the highway environment.

Michael F. Trentacoste
Director, Office of Safety
Research and Development

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1. Report No.

FHWA-RD-99-091

2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No.

4. Title and Subtitle

Pedestrian Safety in Sweden

5. Report Date

6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s)

Dr. Lars Ekman & Dr. Christer Hyden

8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Lund University
Dept. of Traffic Planning & Engineering University of North Carolina
Highway Safety Research Center
730 Airport Rd, CB #3430
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3430

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

11. Contract or Grant No.

DTFH61-92-C-00138

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

Federal Highway Administration
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, Virginia 22101-2296

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. Supplementary Notes

Prime Contractor: University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center
FHWA COTR: Carol Tan Esse

16. Abstract

This report was one in a series of pedestrian safety synthesis reports prepared for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to document pedestrian safety in other countries. Reports are also available for:

United Kingdom (FHWA-RD-99-089)
Canada (FHWA-RD-99-090)
Netherlands (FHWA-RD-99-092)
Australia (FHWA-RD-99-093)

This report is a review of recent pedestrian safety research in Sweden (in particular) with some attention to similar research in other Scandinavian countries. The report states that even Sweden, where attention has long been paid to pedestrian and bicyclists concerns, even so, still too much traffic planning is addressed as if it were a vehicular issue only.

If traffic cannot be separated, then consideration should be given in some areas to restricting vehicle speeds to 30 km/hr. It is argued that future planning must better balance the competing needs of motor vehicle traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists.

17. Key Words

Pedestrians, safety, Sweden, walking, cycling

18. Distribution Statement

19. Security Classification (of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classification (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No. of Pages

57

22. Price

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized