Investigating the Effect of Road Characteristics on Pedestrian and Bike Crash Frequency
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2024
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The World Health Organization's 2023 report highlights a critical global concern, revealing that vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, account for over half of all road traffic fatalities. This alarming statistic underscores the imperative need for enhanced pedestrian and bicycle safety. Road alignment emerges as a pivotal factor influencing the frequency of crashes involving these groups. This thesis examines the relationship between road alignments and features and incidents involving pedestrians and bikes in Oahu, Hawaii, from 2015 to 2022. Structured into two primary sections, the study first develops a methodology for road segmentation based on road alignments, leveraging GPS data and. Subsequently, it employs both Negative Binomial regression and Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial regression analyses to explore the association between segment-level horizontal and vertical road alignments, alongside other road features, and the frequency of crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists. This approach aims to shed light on how specific road configurations contribute to the road safety challenges faced by vulnerable user groups. Key findings indicate that both extremely sharp curves and straight segments elevate crash risks due to navigation difficulty and decreased vigilance respectively. While steeper grades initially decrease crashes, further increases in steepness can escalate crash frequency due to heightened navigational challenges, potentially overriding the cautionary effect observed with moderate steepness. These findings highlight the complex interplay between road geometry and crash incidents. Moreover, higher traffic volumes and more lane numbers emphasizes the heightened risk to pedestrians and bicyclists on roads probably due to increased interactions and challenges of crossing and maneuvering through multi-lane roads. Road segments with higher speed limits tend to have a lower incidence of crashes, likely due to inherent safety features designed for higher speeds and lower speeds in areas frequented by pedestrians and bicyclists. The findings of this study can aid planners and policymakers in enhancing pedestrian and cyclist safety measures.
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Transportation, Bike Crashes, Negative Binomial Regression, Pedestrian Crashes, Road Alignments, Traffic Safety, Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial Regression
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84 pages
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