Pedestrian Fatalities on Interstate Highways: Characteristics and Countermeasures

1997 ◽  
Vol 1578 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher D. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
The United States ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Cellular Telephone ◽  
Interstate Highways ◽  
Counter Measures ◽  
State Highway ◽  
Hit And Run ◽  
Pedestrian Crashes ◽  
Crash Types

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.

Development of Crash Modification Factors for Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossing Treatments

2017 ◽  
Vol 2636 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlie Zegeer ◽  
Craig Lyon ◽  
Raghavan Srinivasan ◽  
Bhagwant Persaud ◽  
Bo Lan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Limited Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Empirical Bayesian ◽  
Treatment Type ◽  
Crash Modification Factors ◽  
Pedestrian Crashes ◽  
Pedestrian Crossing ◽  
Crash Types

The objective of this study was to develop crash modification factors for four treatment types: rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB), pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB), pedestrian refuge island (RI), and advance yield or stop markings and signs (AS). From 14 cities throughout the United States, 975 treatment and comparison sites were selected. Most of the treatment sites were selected at intersections on urban, multilane streets, because these locations present a high risk for pedestrian crashes and are where countermeasures typically are needed most. For each treatment site, relevant data were collected on the treatment characteristics, traffic, geometric, and roadway variables, and the pedestrian crashes and other crash types that occurred at each site. Cross-sectional regression models and before–after empirical Bayesian analysis techniques were used to determine the crash effects of each treatment type. All four of the treatment types were found to be associated with reductions in pedestrian crash risk, compared with the reductions at untreated sites. PHBs were associated with the greatest reduction of pedestrian crash risk (55% reduction), followed by RRFBs (47% reduction), RIs (32% reduction), and AS (25% reduction). The results for RRFBs had their basis in a limited sample and must be used with caution.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Comparative Efficiency of Eleven States’ Highway Expenditures

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hokey Min ◽  
Thomas Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Data Envelopment Analysis ◽  
State Government ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
The United States ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Budget Deficits ◽  
Logistics Industry ◽  
Highway Infrastructure ◽  
Comparative Efficiency ◽  
State Highway

In an era of budget deficits and financial cutbacks, the efficiency of state highway finances dictates future investment in road construction and maintenance. Considering the significant impact of highway infrastructure on the survival and competitiveness of the logistics industry, this paper aims to develop a meaningful set of benchmarks that will guide the state government authority in making wise investment decisions regarding road construction and maintenance. In particular, we propose a data envelopment analysis that is proven to be useful for measuring the operational efficiency of various profit or non-profit organizations. Using the examples of state highway finances for Kentucky and other comparable states in the United States, this paper illustrates the usefulness of data envelopment analysis for the efficient allocation of financial resources to road construction and maintenance.

scholarly journals The Value of Citizen Science in Increasing Our Knowledge of Under-Sampled Biodiversity: An Overview of Public Documentation of Auchenorrhyncha and the Hoppers of North Carolina

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle D. Kittelberger ◽  
Solomon V. Hendrix ◽  
Çağan Hakkı Şekercioğlu
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
The United States ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
The Past ◽  
Global Biodiversity ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

Due to the increasing popularity of websites specializing in nature documentation, there has been a surge in the number of people enthusiastic about observing and documenting nature over the past 2 decades. These citizen scientists are recording biodiversity on unprecedented temporal and spatial scales, rendering data of tremendous value to the scientific community. In this study, we investigate the role of citizen science in increasing knowledge of global biodiversity through the examination of notable contributions to the understanding of the insect suborder Auchenorrhyncha, also known as true hoppers, in North America. We have compiled a comprehensive summary of citizen science contributions—published and unpublished—to the understanding of hopper diversity, finding over fifty previously unpublished country and state records as well as dozens of undescribed and potentially undescribed species. We compare citizen science contributions to those published in the literature as well as specimen records in collections in the United States and Canada, illuminating the fact that the copious data afforded by citizen science contributions are underutilized. We also introduce the website Hoppers of North Carolina, a revolutionary new benchmark for tracking hopper diversity, disseminating knowledge from the literature, and incorporating citizen science. Finally, we provide a series of recommendations for both the entomological community and citizen science platforms on how best to approach, utilize, and increase the quality of sightings from the general public.

scholarly journals COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in underserved communities of North Carolina

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0248542
Author(s):  
Irene A. Doherty ◽  
William Pilkington ◽  
Laurin Brown ◽  
Victoria Billings ◽  
Undi Hoffler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Underserved Communities ◽  
Safety Concerns

Background In the United States, underserved communities including Blacks and Latinx are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, describe attitudes related to vaccination, and identify correlates among historically marginalized populations across 9 counties in North Carolina. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey distributed at free COVID-19 testing events in underserved rural and urban communities from August 27 –December 15, 2020. Vaccine hesitancy was defined as the response of “no” or “don’t know/not sure” to whether the participant would get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it became available. Results The sample comprised 948 participants including 27.7% Whites, 59.6% Blacks, 12.7% Latinx, and 63% female. 32% earned <$20K annually, 60% owned a computer and ~80% had internet access at home. The prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was 68.9% including 62.7%, 74%, and 59.5% among Whites, Blacks, and Latinx, respectively. Between September and December, the largest decline in vaccine hesitancy occurred among Whites (27.5 percentage points), followed by Latinx (17.6) and only 12.0 points among Blacks. 51.2% of respondents reported vaccine safety concerns, 23.7% wanted others to get vaccinated first, and 63.1% would trust health care providers about the COVID-19 vaccine. Factors associated with hesitancy in multivariable logistic regression included being female (OR = 1.90 95%CI [1.36, 2.64]), being Black (OR = 1.68 1.16, 2.45]), calendar month (OR = 0.76 [0.63, 0.92]), safety concerns (OR = 4.28 [3.06, 5.97]), and government distrust (OR = 3.57 [2.26, 5.63]). Conclusions This study engaged the community to directly reach underserved minority populations at highest risk of COVID-19 that permitted assessment of vaccine hesitancy (which was much higher than national estimates), driven in part by distrust, and safety concerns.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document