Pedestrian and Bicyclist Crash Scenarios in the U.S

Abstract

This paper shows the scenarios in light vehicle crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists in the United States from 2000 to 2013. NHTSA's NASS GES and FARS dataset were analyzed to determine scenarios and associated factors. Among the key findings are: 6% of total injury crashes and 13.3% of total fatal crashes were pedestrian/bicyclist related, which resulted in an average 3600 pedestrian fatalities per year, 570 bicyclist fatalities per year, 57034 pedestrian injuries per year and 43240 bicyclist injuries per year. Crashes involving older pedestrians and bicyclists (age 70+) often were more severe than other groups. More male than females were involved in both pedestrian and bicyclist related fatal and injury crashes, as either driver or road user. Most crashes happened under no adverse weather conditions, on dry principle arterial roads and at non-junction location. Daylight condition had the highest bicyclist crash rates and pedestrian injury crash rates while fatal pedestrian rates were much higher in dark but lighted condition and dark condition. Pedestrians and bicyclists were more at risk in urban areas in part due to the large number of pedestrian and vehicle activity in that area. Pedestrian were more likely to be killed in a crash between 18:00 and 21:00 and in cold season (during October to January). More bicyclist crashes happened in summer time. Before crashes happened, majority of vehicles were going straight, while more pedestrians were jaywalking/running and most of bicyclists were failing to yield. About 21% of total bicyclist related crash fatalities and 26% of total pedestrian related crash fatalities had alcohol involvement. This number may even higher since alcohol data are often missing. This analysis is quite valuable for design and evaluation of in-vehicle pedestrian and bicyclist detection system.