How Much Pedestrian Harm Can We Attribute to Larger Vehicles in the Fleet?

Details

• Creators:
  Cherry, Christopher R. ; Parajuli, Saurav ; Barnhart, Kepler
• Corporate Creators:
  Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety (CPBS) Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC) ; University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program ; United States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Fatalities Pedestrian Safety Speed Limits Vehicle Design Vehicle Size
• Publication/ Report Number:
  23UTK03
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/jrmb-mq90
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report – June 2023 to May 2024
• Corporate Publisher:
  Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety (CPBS) Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC)
• Abstract:
  Pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. have surged by 83 percent from 2009 to 2022, compared to a 25 percent increase in other traffic fatalities, coinciding with the boom of larger vehicles in the U.S. This study explores the impact of vehicle characteristics—including speed, size, weight, and design—on pedestrian injury outcomes, using Tennessee police crash data from 2009 to 2019, along with the vehicle details extracted using standardized Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and Canadian Vehicle Specifications (CVS) dataset. The analysis, conducted using logistic and partial proportional odds models, revealed that higher speed limits, vehicle weights, and vehicle heights correlate with increased severity and fatality rates in pedestrian crashes. Key findings indicate that a 15 mph increase in speed limits results in a 50 percent rise in severe injury odds and a 150 percent rise in fatal injury odds, while vehicle heights significantly affect injury severity making pickup trucks 75.8 percent and compact SUVs 27.3 percent more dangerous than passenger cars for fatal pedestrian crashes. While newer vehicles are becoming more dangerous due to growing size, older vehicles were found to cause more pedestrian harm due to their age. The study also found that vehicle weight affects pedestrian safety more at lower speeds. The study recommends prioritizing speed management, implementing road design changes, encouraging pedestrian safety technologies, and regulating vehicle size and weight trends. The research highlights the need for future studies to examine actual vehicle speeds and weights, impact dynamics, and effects of electric and hybrid vehicles on pedestrian safety.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  69A3552348336
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:dafaaa4474b1e3118269cf32c124ffa274c869cabe4d45eaebacbdc64841a44425d2608808cce30964f776b33863f4a81da90b4f0a385a16305231caa3e73159
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/86223/dot_86223_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.54 MB ]