The built environment and the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes: Toward a systems-oriented crash investigation

This study identifies built environmental factors that influence the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes in the United States, with implications for both safety and equity. Using data from Columbus, Ohio, we apply regression modeling, spatial analysis, and case studies, and find pede...

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Main Authors: Jonathan Stiles, Harvey Miller
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing 2024-02-01
Series:Journal of Transport and Land Use
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.jtlu.org/index.php/jtlu/article/view/2335
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author Jonathan Stiles
Harvey Miller
author_facet Jonathan Stiles
Harvey Miller
author_sort Jonathan Stiles
collection DOAJ
description This study identifies built environmental factors that influence the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes in the United States, with implications for both safety and equity. Using data from Columbus, Ohio, we apply regression modeling, spatial analysis, and case studies, and find pedestrians are more likely to be found at fault on fast, high-volume arterial roads with bus stops. We also observe that better provision of crossings leads to more marked intersection crashes, which are less likely to be blamed on pedestrians. In addition, large differences in both the provision of crossings and fault exist between neighborhoods. We interpret findings through the lenses of the systems-oriented safety approaches Safe Systems and Vision Zero. The conclusion argues that the designation of individual responsibility for crashes preempts collective responsibility, preventing wider adoption of design interventions as well as systemic changes to the processes that determine the built environment of US roadways.
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spelling doaj-art-ff067b5c04794aeebce56a10f0afd0f02025-08-20T02:04:49ZengUniversity of Minnesota Libraries PublishingJournal of Transport and Land Use1938-78492024-02-0117110.5198/jtlu.2024.2335The built environment and the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes: Toward a systems-oriented crash investigationJonathan Stiles0Harvey Miller1The Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State University This study identifies built environmental factors that influence the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes in the United States, with implications for both safety and equity. Using data from Columbus, Ohio, we apply regression modeling, spatial analysis, and case studies, and find pedestrians are more likely to be found at fault on fast, high-volume arterial roads with bus stops. We also observe that better provision of crossings leads to more marked intersection crashes, which are less likely to be blamed on pedestrians. In addition, large differences in both the provision of crossings and fault exist between neighborhoods. We interpret findings through the lenses of the systems-oriented safety approaches Safe Systems and Vision Zero. The conclusion argues that the designation of individual responsibility for crashes preempts collective responsibility, preventing wider adoption of design interventions as well as systemic changes to the processes that determine the built environment of US roadways. https://www.jtlu.org/index.php/jtlu/article/view/2335PedestrianTraffic CrashesSafe SystemsVision ZeroTransportation Equity
spellingShingle Jonathan Stiles
Harvey Miller
The built environment and the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes: Toward a systems-oriented crash investigation
Journal of Transport and Land Use
Pedestrian
Traffic Crashes
Safe Systems
Vision Zero
Transportation Equity
title The built environment and the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes: Toward a systems-oriented crash investigation
title_full The built environment and the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes: Toward a systems-oriented crash investigation
title_fullStr The built environment and the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes: Toward a systems-oriented crash investigation
title_full_unstemmed The built environment and the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes: Toward a systems-oriented crash investigation
title_short The built environment and the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes: Toward a systems-oriented crash investigation
title_sort built environment and the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes toward a systems oriented crash investigation
topic Pedestrian
Traffic Crashes
Safe Systems
Vision Zero
Transportation Equity
url https://www.jtlu.org/index.php/jtlu/article/view/2335
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