Vehicle - Pedestrian
Pedestrians are vulnerable road users. In many countries, collisions with pedestrians are a leading cause of death and injury. In some countries, over half of all road deaths are caused by collisions between vehicles and pedestrians.
Collisions between pedestrians and vehicles occur in a number of situations, including:
- walking in to the path of a vehicle, especially while trying to cross the road
- walking along the roadside, or on the road
- playing or working on the road
- on driveways or footpaths
- while boarding or leaving public transport vehicles.
The severity of pedestrian crashes is strongly dependent on the speed of traffic. Research shows that the chances of a pedestrian surviving an impact with a motorised vehicle reduces dramatically above 30 km/h, and even at lower speeds than this, serious harm can be caused, especially to elderly or child pedestrians.
The risk of pedestrian injuries is increased by a number factors that relate to the road environment, including
- high speed of traffic
- inadequate crossing facilities
- lack of pedestrian crossing opportunities (gaps in passing traffic)
- number of lanes to cross
- complexity and unpredictability of traffic movements at intersection
- inadequate separation from traffic
- poor crossing sight distance.
- Safer Roads
- Estimated cost
- Casualty Reduction
- Pedestrian Crossing - Unsignalised
- Low
- 25-40%
- Central Hatching
- Low
- 10-25%
- Pedestrian Fencing
- Low
- 25-40%
- School Zones
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Sight Distance (obstruction removal)
- Low to medium
- 25-40%
- Parking Improvements
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Pedestrian Footpath
- Low to medium
- 40-60%
- Pedestrian Refuge Island
- Low to medium
- 25-40%
- Shoulder Sealing
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Speed Management
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Street Lighting
- Medium
- 10-25%
- Pedestrian Crossing - Signalised
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Traffic Calming
- Medium to high
- 25-40%
- Restrict/Combine Direct Access Points
- Medium to high
- 25-40%
- Service Road
- High
- 25-40%
- Pedestrian Crossing - Grade Separation
- High
- 60% or more
- Safer Vehicles
Safer Roads
- Safer Roads
- Estimated cost
- Casualty Reduction
- Pedestrian Crossing - Unsignalised
- Low
- 25-40%
- Central Hatching
- Low
- 10-25%
- Pedestrian Fencing
- Low
- 25-40%
- School Zones
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Sight Distance (obstruction removal)
- Low to medium
- 25-40%
- Parking Improvements
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Pedestrian Footpath
- Low to medium
- 40-60%
- Pedestrian Refuge Island
- Low to medium
- 25-40%
- Shoulder Sealing
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Speed Management
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Street Lighting
- Medium
- 10-25%
- Pedestrian Crossing - Signalised
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Traffic Calming
- Medium to high
- 25-40%
- Restrict/Combine Direct Access Points
- Medium to high
- 25-40%
- Service Road
- High
- 25-40%
- Pedestrian Crossing - Grade Separation
- High
- 60% or more
Safer Vehicles
- Safer Vehicles
Safer People
- Safer People
Did you know?
Unexpectedly tight horizontal bends can lead to crashes when drivers try to negotiate them at high speed.
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