Analyzing Pedestrian-Involved Crash Hotspots in Hillsborough County, Florida

Abstract

Pedestrians involved in vehicle accidents are at high risk of injury because they lack protection in the event of a collision. Hillsborough County, Florida is an especially dangerous area for pedestrians, where 1.5 pedestrians per day on average are involved in a motor vehicle accident. To maximize efficiency for planners and increase resulting benefits for pedestrians, this study aims to identify zones or hotspots of pedestrian-involved accidents based on pedestrian-involved crashes on major roads from 2012 to 2016 in Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. Using the network-based Moran’s I index, the Ripley’s K-function, and kernel density estimation as exploratory data analysis tools, this study investigates possible spatial dependence for pedestrian-involved crash events in Hillsborough County and identifies areas of high pedestrian risk. First, this study will apply the Moran’s I Index and Ripley’s K-function to demonstrate that pedestrian-involved accident sites are not randomly distributed in the study area. Next, we proceed with application of kernel density estimation to determine zones where high pedestrian risk might be associated with a high density of accidents. Identification of specific locations of high risk allows infrastructure improvement projects to prioritize resources efficiently, ultimately resulting in increased benefits to pedestrians.