Preusser Research Group, Inc.

United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Research Paper

791596

Final report

Levy, Marvin; Ellison-Potter, Patricia

United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITY ; NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Speed Limits ; NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway Safety ; NTL-PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLES-Pedestrians ;

The relationship between vehicle travel speeds and resulting pedestrian injury was reviewed in the literature and in existing data sets. Results indicated that higher vehicle speeds are strongly associated with both a greater likelihood of pedestrian crash occurrence and more serious resulting pedestrian injury. It was estimated that only 5% of pedestrians would die when struck by a vehicle traveling at 20 mph (32 km/h) or less. This compares with fatality rates of 40, 80, and nearly 100% for striking speeds of 30, 40, and 50 mph (48, 64, and 80 km/h) or more, respectively. Reductions in vehicle travel speeds can be achieved through lowered speed limits, police enforcement of speed limits, and associated public information. More long-lasting speed reductions in neighborhoods where vehicles and pedestrians commonly share the roadway can be achieved through engineering approaches generally known as traffic calming. Countermeasures include road humps, roundabouts, other horizontal traffic deflections (e.g., chicanes), and increased use of stop signs. Comprehensive community-based speed reduction programs, combining public information and education, enforcement, and roadway engineering, are recommended. /Abstract from report summary page/

PDF

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/pub/HS809012.html
; http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/16000/16200/16281/PB2000103347.pdf
;

DTNH22-97-D-05018

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research