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The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of research studies on pedestrian safety in the United States;some foreign research also is included. Readers will find details of pedestrian crash characteristics, measures of pedestrian exposure and hazard, and specific roadway features and their effects on pedestrian safety.
A crash modification factor (CMF) is a multiplicative factor used to compute the expected number of crashes after implementing a given countermeasure at a specific site. The Crash Modification Factors Clearinghouse houses a Web-based database of CMFs along with supporting documentation to help transportation engineers identify the most appropriate countermeasure for their safety needs. Using this site, you can search to find CMFs or submit your own CMFs to be included in the clearinghouse.
FHWA Newsletter on pedestrian safety
In January 2012, FHWA issued a “Guidance Memorandum on Promoting the Implementation of Proven Safety Countermeasures”. This guidance takes into consideration the latest safety research to advance a group of countermeasures that have shown great effectiveness in improving safety. Safety practitioners are encouraged to consider this set of countermeasures that are research-proven, but not widely applied on a national basis.
The Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System is intended to provide practitioners with the latest information available for improving the safety and mobility of those who walk. The online tools provide the user with a list of possible engineering, education, or enforcement treatments to improve pedestrian safety and/or mobility based on user input about a specific location.
Improving safety is a top priority for the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) remains committed to reducing highway fatalities and serious injuries on our Nation’s roadways through the use of proven safety countermeasures, including Road Diets. Along with the development of the Road Diet Informational Guide, the FHWA Office of Safety commissioned a series of 24 case studies highlighting Road Diet implementations throughout the United States.
Safety is the number one priority for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and it's the agency's policy to provide safe and effective pedestrian accommodation wherever possible. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) encourages the use of specific proven pedestrian safety countermeasures that can help achieve local, State and National safety goals.
FHWA awarded three cooperative agreements to Las Vegas, NV;Miami-Dade, FL;and San Francisco, CA to demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of a combined pedestrian safety engineering and intelligent transportation systems (ITS)-based areawide countermeasures program for reducing pedestrian fatalities, injuries, conflicts, and other surrogate measures of safety.
TRB's NCHRP Synthesis 498: Application of Pedestrian Crossing Treatments for Streets and Highways compiles information on the state of existing practices regarding application of pedestrian crossing improvements, and does not produce new guidance. The report includes a survey of state departments of transportation (DOTs) and local transportation agencies, a synthesis of current recommended practice and policy guidance, and a literature review of safety evidence for more than 25 pedestrian crossing treatments.
"This chart summarizes studies about the effectiveness of engineering countermeasures. Studies where an increase in crashes were reported are also shown since this information is also relevant in selection of countermeasures."