Built Environment Features and Pedestrian Accidents: An Italian Retrospective Study

Tanja Congiu,Giovanni Sotgiu,Paolo Castiglia,Marco Dettori,Andrea Piana,Antonio Azara,Laura Saderi

doi:10.3390/su11041064

Abstract

Daily walking is a recommended physical activity. It can be an all-age suitable, environment-friendly transport option. However, traffic crashes are a widely recognized risk factor, associated with drivers’ errors or a combination of several environmental factors, including physical characteristics of the road space. The aim of this study was to assess the characteristics of built environments on pedestrian safety. Data on road accidents that had occurred between 2005 and 2015, in Alghero, Italy, were retrieved and matched with spatial and functional street qualities. On-street parking was found to increase the risk of pedestrian accidents by about two times, whereas, narrow travel lanes and intersections reduced the incidence of crashes and their public relevance. These field results could inform urban health and spatial planning policies with the final goal of improving health and providing more sustainable models of urban organization.

Highlights

Physical harassment and road traffic accidents have been recognized by the World Health Organization as the main health threats in urban settings, along with communicable and non-communicable diseases [1]
Between 1st January 2005 and 31st December 2015, 1,283 road accidents were reported by the local Police of Alghero
The present study evaluated the relationship between built environment characteristics and pedestrian accidents, with the goal of providing elements to improve pedestrian safety and, to encourage walking and promote a healthy lifestyle

Summary

Introduction

Physical harassment and road traffic accidents have been recognized by the World Health Organization as the main health threats in urban settings, along with communicable and non-communicable diseases [1]. Traffic accidents can involve several individuals, including pedestrians. As a consequence of this, citizens avoid routine walking. This preventative behavior can be frequently detected in vulnerable population groups (e.g., elderly, children, or disabled persons). In Europe ~21% of all traffic-related fatalities involve pedestrians, mainly elderly people and children. 69% are found to have occurred in urban areas, where vehicular speed was found to have been the key, in ~30% of cases [2]

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Conclusion