Identification of High Pedestrian Crash Locations
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION
One of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) top priorities is the improvement of pedestrian and bicyclist safety. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) promotes safe, comfortable, and convenient walking for people of all ages and abilities. Part of this effort has been to encourage a data-driven approach to identifying and mitigating safety problems.
An initial step in reducing the frequency of pedestrian crashes is identifying where they occur or where there is a concern they are likely to occur. Once locations with a large number of pedestrian crashes or with a safety concern for pedestrians have been identified, appropriate treatments can be selected and installed.
The objective of this FHWA research was to document methods used to identify or prioritize high pedestrian crash sites or areas. Using the information gathered as part of this research, the research team developed a best practice document, Guidebook on Identification of High Pedestrian Crash Locations (henceforward referred to as “the Guidebook”),which can assist State and local agencies in identifying high pedestrian crash locations, corridors, and zones.(1)
The research was conducted in a series of tasks as follows:
- Task 1—Hold Kickoff Meeting and Organize Technical Advisory Panel (TAP): The research team met with FHWA staff to discuss the project direction, scope, and work plan. Following that meeting, the research team worked with FHWA on identifying a TAP.
- Task 2—Develop Literature Review: The research team reviewed the literature to identify how high pedestrian crash locations are currently identified. The review also found issues and tools associated with identifying high crash locations (HCLs).
- Task 3—Conduct Agency and Industry Interviews: The research team conducted several interviews with governmental agencies and industry representatives.
- Task 4—Develop Draft Best Practice Guide: The research team developed the Guidebook.
- Task 5—Conduct Webinar Workshop and Final Briefing Meeting: A final briefing meeting was held in May 2017 that included FHWA, members of the research team, and the panel. Following the briefing, the research team conducted a webinar workshop on the draft Guidebook. Comments from the webinar workshop were used to refine the Guidebook.
- Task 6—Develop Documentation: The research team developed the final deliverables, which include this comprehensive technical report that documents all aspects of the project’s activities and findings, along with a TechBrief.(2)
This report includes the following chapters:
- Chapter 1. Introduction. The introduction presents general background information and the research objectives.
- Chapter 2. Literature Review. This chapter presents information on the tools and methods currently being used to identify HCLs with an emphasis on what is being used with pedestrian crashes.
- Chapter 3. Interviews With Governmental Agencies. This chapter summarizes interviews held with governmental agencies that explored how high pedestrian crash locations are identified.
- Chapter 4. Interviews About Pedestrian Collision Warning Systems. This chapter summarizes interviews that explored the potential of using pedestrian collision warning systems to identify locations of concern.
- Chapter 5. Development of the Guidebook and Webinar Workshop. This chapter provides an overview of the webinar workshop that was developed based on the Guidebook.
- Chapter 6. Summary/Conclusions and Future Research Needs. This chapter provides a summary and the conclusions of the research and presents future research needs.
