Pedestrian Fatalities on Interstate Highways: Characteristics and Countermeasures

Abstract

Pedestrian fatalities on Interstate highways account for more than 10 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in the United States. This study identifies crash types and factors contributing to fatal pedestrian crashes on Interstate highways and surveys countermeasures that address the problem. A 3-year sample of 394 police accident reports detailing fatal Interstate pedestrian crashes in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina was collected. Data from the reports, including light conditions, pedestrian and driver characteristics, and pedestrian activity at the time of the crash were compiled for analysis. Factors contributing to the crashes included pedestrian and driver alcohol use and poor light conditions. Eighty percent of the crashes occurred after dark. Forty percent of the crashes involved pedestrians entering or crossing the highway. Thirty-two percent involved an unintended pedestrian—someone who had a broken-down vehicle, had been involved in a previous crash, or was walking or standing on the shoulder, but who did not set out to enter the Interstate on foot. Twenty percent of the crashes involved a hit-and-run driver. Common counter-measures currently in place include emergency call stations, roving roadside assistance vehicles, and emergency cellular telephone numbers to report disabled vehicles. About half of the respondents to a national survey of state highway representatives cited the need for additional countermeasures, such as educational programs and access barriers. Further research is necessary to find out which countermeasures are most effective. State rankings based on the number of Interstate pedestrian fatalities per Interstate vehicle kilometer traveled reveal Texas, New Mexico, Delaware, Nevada, and Missouri as the states with the worst relative rates. Motorists should avoid stopping on Interstate highways if at all possible, take measures to make themselves visible, and shield themselves from traffic when stopping is unavoidable.