PEDESTRIAN CASUALTIES AT ROAD INTERSECTIONS AND SUGGESTED ENGINEERING COUNTERMEASURES

The increasing pedestrian casualty problem at road intersections is discussed. Various aspects are analyzed, such as age, ethnic group and sex of drivers and pedestrians involved, the location of accidents according to type of intersection, area and road, the time distribution and accident causes. Major casualty causes identified are lack of compliance with traffic signals, pedestrians walking or running into vehicles, turning-vehicles/pedestrian conflicts and visibility problems. The majority of pedestrian casualties occur at traffic signals and uncontrolled intersections, whereas stop and yield controlled intersections are safer. Signal controlled intersections in the central business district and along arterial roads are often involved. Most of the hazardous uncontrolled intersections are located in non-White residential areas. Improved design guidelines and related countermeasures are recommended.