Connecticut Motor Vehicle Crashes

Involving Pedestrians and Pedal Cyclists

CODES PresentationConnecticut Department of Public

HealthSeptember 2012

Reason for the StudyO Growing frequency of mainstream media

reports concerning pedestrian and bicyclist involvement in motor vehicle crashes

O Increased local, state, and national focus on promoting biking and walking for public health and environmental benefits

Leading to our increased interest in the characteristics, outcomes, and trends of crashes involving non-occupants (i.e., pedestrians and pedal cyclists)

Reason for the StudyO 2009 CT Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian

Transportation PlanO Primary focus is “to advance bicycling and walking as a

means of transportation, while recognizing their value for recreation and fitness”

O 2009 CT Complete Streets LawO Accommodations for all users shall be a routine part of

the planning, design, construction and operating activities

O After 10/01/10 not less than 1% of the funds for highway construction/repair received by the state or a municipality in any given year shall be used to provide facilities for all users – i.e., bikeways, sidewalks, etc.

MethodsO Used Connecticut General Use Model

dataset for the years 2005-2008O Looked into characteristics and factors

associated with pedestrian and pedal cyclist crashes, including:

O ED discharge statusO Injury severityO AgeO GenderO Location

Driver ComparisonsDriver

Pedestrian/Pedal Cyclist Crashes

DriverAll Crashes

1%

6%

29%

31%

33% <=15

years16-19 years20-34 years

0%

10%

33%

30%

26%

60% ♂ drivers2.8% of crashes speed-

related

58% ♂ drivers5.8% of crashes speed-

related

Overview:Connecticut Motor Vehicle

Injuries (2005-2008)

O An estimated 155,557 people were injured* in motor vehicle traffic crashesO 107,532 driversO 41,152 passengersO 4,389 pedestriansO 2,484 pedal cyclists

*non-fatal only--includes possible, non-incapacitating, and incapacitating injuries

Traffic Crashes Involving Pedestrians and Pedal

CyclistsO During 2005-2008, there were more

than 7,700 motor vehicle crashes involving pedestrians or pedal cyclistsO 89% resulted in non-fatal injuries for

the pedestrian or cyclistO 60% of those who were injured were

maleO 99% of the crashes occurred in urban

areas

Occupants and Non-Occupants Injured

in Traffic CrashesBy Age

Driver and Passenger(occupants)

Pedestrian and Pedal Cyclist

(non-occupants)

7%12%

33%

26%

23% <=15

years16-19 years20-34 years

25%

12%

22%

21%

19%

Lighting ConditionsO Of the crashes that resulted in non-

fatal injuries for the pedestrian or pedal cyclist:O 68% occurred in daylight

O 61% of pedestrian crashesO 80% of cyclist crashes

O 23% occurred when dark but lightedO 29% of pedestrian crashesO 13% of cyclist crashes

Weather ConditionsO Of the crashes that resulted in non-

fatal injuries for the pedestrian or pedal cyclist:O 87% occurred in clear/cloudy conditions

O 84% of pedestrian crashesO 93% of cyclist crashes

O 10% occurred in rainy conditionsO 13% of pedestrian crashesO 6% of cyclist crashes

Intersection-RelatedO Of the crashes that resulted in non-

fatal injuries for the pedestrian or pedal cyclist:O 50.7% occurred within an intersection

O 45.1% of pedestrian crashesO 60.8% of cyclist crashes

May highlight need for additional education or improved traffic engineering for intersections

Occupants and Non-Occupants Injured in Traffic Crashes

Description Injured (Non-Fatal)

2005 2006 2007 2008change (‘05-’08

)

% change (‘05-’08

)

total 41,254 38,565

39,727

36,011 -5,243 -

12.7%Occupants

driver 28,409 26,564

27,425

25,134 -3,275 -

11.5%passeng

er 11,128 10,365

10,446 9,213 -1,915 -

17.2%driver + passeng

er39,537 36,92

937,87

134,34

7 -5,190 -13.1%

Non-Occupantspedestri

an 1,067 1,059 1,199 1,064 -3 -0.28%

cyclist 650 577 657 600 -50 -7.7%pedestri

an + cyclist

1,717 1,636 1,856 1,664 -53 -3.1%

Overview:Connecticut Motor Vehicle

Fatalities (2005-2008)

O 1,249 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashesO 839 driversO 238 passengersO 152 pedestriansO 20 pedal cyclists

Pedestrian and Pedal Cyclist Traffic Crash Fatalities

O During 2005-2008,O Averaged nearly 1 pedestrian or pedal

cyclist death per weekO Pedestrian fatalities increased with age

O 53% aged >50 years O 65% of pedestrians or pedal cyclists who

died were male O 61% of pedestrian deathsO 100% of cyclist deaths

O 98% of crashes involving a pedestrian or pedal cyclist fatality occurred in urban areas

Occupant and Non-Occupant Traffic Crash Fatalities

By AgeDriver and Passenger

Pedestrian and Pedal Cyclist

2%

12%

32%

23%

31% <=15

years16-19 years20-34 years

7%5%

18%

20%

50%

Pedestrian and Pedal Cyclist Fatal Crash Occurrences

By Month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

8.5%5.9%

8.7% 9.2%

5.9%4.6%

7.9%5.9%

7.2%

11.8%13.8%

10.5%

0.0% 0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

20.0%

0.0%

18.0%

25.0%

6.0% 6.0%

0.0%

10.0%

pedestrian crash cyclist crash

Lighting ConditionsO Of the crashes that resulted in fatal

injuries for the pedestrian or pedal cyclist:O 46% occurred when dark but lighted

O 50% of pedestrian crashesO 19% of cyclist crashes

O 34% occurred in daylightO 29% of pedestrian crashesO 70% of cyclist crashes

Weather ConditionsO Of the crashes that resulted in fatal

injuries for the pedestrian or pedal cyclist:O 82% occurred in clear/cloudy

conditionsO 79% of pedestrian crashesO 100% of cyclist crashes

O 15% of pedestrian fatalities occurred in rainy conditions

Intersection-RelatedO Of the crashes that resulted in fatal

injuries for the pedestrian or pedal cyclist:O 27% occurred within an intersection

O 23% of pedestrian crashesO 57% of cyclist crashes

Motor Vehicle Crashes with Pedal Cyclist Fatality

39%

25%

36% no safety

equipment helmet usedother safety equipment used

Occupants and Non-Occupants Killed in Traffic Crashes

Description Killed

2005 2006 2007 2008change (‘05-’08

)% change (‘05-’08)

total 306 333 306 304 -2 -0.65%Occupants

driver 204 235 202 198 -6 -2.9%passeng

er 65 54 66 53 -12 -18.5%driver + passeng

er269 289 268 251 -18 -6.7%

Non-Occupantspedestri

an 34 38 33 47 +13 +38.2%cyclist 3 6 5 6 +3 +100%

pedestrian +

cyclist37 44 38 53 +16 +43.2%

Fatality and Injury RatesBy Year

Occupant Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million VMT

2005 2006 2007 2008 Change ‘05-’08

% Change ‘05-’08

Fatality Rate

0.85 0.91 0.84 0.79 -0.06 -6.9%

Injury Rate 125 116 118 108 -17 -13.3%Non-Occupant Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million VMT

2005 2006 2007 2008 Change ‘05-’08

% Change ‘05-’08

Fatality Rate

0.12 0.14 0.12 0.17 +0.05 +39.2%

Injury Rate 5 5 6 5 0 0%

Summary-FindingsTraffic Crashes Resulting in Non-Fatal Injuries for the

Pedestrian or Pedal Cyclist

Traffic Crashes Resulting in Fatal Injuries for the

Pedestrian or Pedal CyclistO 60% injured were maleO Largest proportion injured

were <=15 years oldO 68% occurred during

daylight hoursO 23% occurred when dark

but lightedO 51% occurred in

intersections

O 65% killed were maleO Largest proportion killed

were >=50 years oldO 34% occurred during

daylight hoursO 46% occurred when

dark but lightedO 27% occurred in

intersections

Findings-SummaryODriver and passenger injury and

fatality rates decreasedOPedestrian and pedal cyclist

injury and fatality rates increased or were unchanged

Recommendations and Next Steps

O Examine more recent injury and fatality data for pedestrians and pedal cyclists involved in MV crashes

O Share results with partners to:O Help focus education and awareness effortsO Advocate for more and safer pedestrian and

biker facilitiesO Advise agencies on policies and programs

that promote active living and healthy, safe physical environments

CODES ProgramCT Department of Public Health

O Justin Peng:Justin.Peng@ct.gov

O Dawn Sorosiak:Dawn.Sorosiak@ct.gov