Analysis of Alcohol-Involved Pedestrian Fatalities in the United States, 2003–2015

Abstract

In 2015, 5,376 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the U.S., a 9.5% increase from 2014 and the highest number since 1996. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 40% of pedestrian fatalities in 2013 involved alcohol; however limited research exists on factors that contribute to these alcohol-involved fatalities. This study examines trends in alcohol-involved pedestrian fatalities across demographic and crash specific variables. Using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), this study analyzed 59,754 pedestrian fatalities between 2003 and 2015. Alcohol-involved crashes include any crash where a pedestrian's BAC was at least 0.01 g/dL. Descriptive statistics included frequencies of demographic (age, sex, race, ethnicity, urbanicity) and crash specific variables (intersection type, time of week). Logistic regression models were also used to determine the likelihood of alcohol-involvement across demographic and crash specific variables. Young adults (21–34) were the most common age group and had greater odds of being in an alcohol-involved fatality than any other age group. Females were less likely (AOR: 0.685, p<0.001) than males to be involved in an alcohol-involved pedestrian crashes. In the case of urbanicity, 65% of rural crashes and 61% of urban crashes involved alcohol. American Indians had 3.3 times greater odds (p<0.001) of being in a crash that involved alcohol than their White counterparts. Hispanics had a 1.2 greater odds(p<.001) of having alcohol-involvement in a fatality than non-Hispanics. Alcohol-involved fatalities were more likely to occur at non-intersections rather than intersections (AOR: 1.298, p<0.001). Pedestrian had greater odds of being in an alcohol-involved fatality on a weekend than a weekday (AOR: 0.604, p<0.001). Demographic and crash specific variables influence alcohol involvement in pedestrian fatalities. Pedestrian fatalities, specifically those involving alcohol, is a public health and transportation issue. Targeted interventions such as education and enforcement in areas of high pedestrian fatalities involving alcohol are needed.