In-depth approach for identifying crash causation patterns and its implications for pedestrian crash prevention

Lishengsa Yue, Mohamed Abdel-Aty, Yina Wu, Ou Zheng, Jinghui Yuan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: A pedestrian crash occurs due to a series of contributing factors taking effect in an antecedent-consequent order. One specific type of antecedent-consequent order is called a crash causation pattern. Understanding crash causation patterns is important for clarifying the complicated growth of a pedestrian crash, which ultimately helps recommend corresponding countermeasures. However, previous studies lack an in-depth investigation of pedestrian crash cases, and are insufficient to propose a representative picture of causation patterns. Method: In this study, pedestrian crash causation patterns were discerned by using the Driving Reliability and Error Analysis Method (DREAM). One hundred and forty-two pedestrian crashes were investigated, and five pedestrian pre-crash scenarios were extracted. Then, the crash causation patterns in each pre-crash scenario were analyzed; and finally, six distinct patterns were identified. Accordingly, 17 typical situations corresponding to these causation patterns were specified as well. Results: Among these patterns, the pattern related to distracted driving and the pattern related to an unexpected change of pedestrian trajectory contributed to a large portion of the total crashes (i.e., 27% and 24%, respectively). Other patterns also played an important role in inducing a pedestrian crash; these patterns include the pattern related to an obstructed line of sight caused by outside objects (9%), the pattern that involves reduced visibility (13%), and the pattern related to an improper estimation of the gap distance between the vehicle and the pedestrian (10%). The results further demonstrated the inter-heterogeneity of a crash causation pattern, as well as the intra-heterogeneity of pattern features between different pedestrian pre-crash scenarios. Conclusions and practical applications: Essentially, a crash causation pattern might involve different contributing factors by nature or dependent on specific scenarios. Finally, this study proposed suggestions for roadway facility design, roadway safety education and pedestrian crash prevention system development.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)119-132
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Safety Research
Volume73
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2020
Externally publishedYes

Funding

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the US Department of Transportation , Research and Innovative Technology Administration , Award No. DTRT13-G-UTC53 ( SAFER-SIM ).

Keywords

  • Crash causation pattern
  • Crash contributing factors
  • Driving Reliability and Error Analysis Method
  • Pedestrian crashes

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