How Does Pedestrian-Driver Behavior Influence in the Number of Crashes? A Michigan’s Case Study

Abstract

Abstract This study provides with a safety assessment of the pedestrian’s crash data in one of the largest cities of the state of Michigan, Grand Rapids. Crash data reviewed included a 9-year period between years 2010 and 2018. Crash clusters with largest number of accidents were selected to perform analysis based on the normalization of crash with population (using Census Bureau information). Geographic Information System (GIS) software was used to gather this data using a 250-feet buffer around the clusters. Also, GIS was used to identify the infrastructure design and locations nearby the studied area (e.g. schools and hospitals) to understand the crash environments. Observation of the associated factors with pedestrian crashes were studied at the location of interest. An analysis of all safety efforts was completed and a list of recommendations and possible implementation strategies (e.g. pedestrian countermeasures). Finally, it was found that four types of pedestrian crashes were most representative that crashes involved left-turning vehicle, crashes involved right-turn vehicle, crashed involved pedestrian in crosswalk and through traffic, and pedestrian were not cross at designated cross location