Innovative Worldwide Strategies for Promoting Safer Walking as Part of a 'Vision Zero' Approach Lauren Marchetti Charlie Zegeer Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center UNC Highway Safety Research Center Chapel Hill, North Carolina Presented at WALK21 Vienna Conference 2015
33
Embed
Innovative Worldwide Strategies for Promoting Safer Walking as Part of a 'Vision Zero' Approach Lauren Marchetti Charlie Zegeer Pedestrian and Bicycle.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Innovative Worldwide Strategies for Promoting Safer Walking as Part of a 'Vision Zero' Approach
Lauren Marchetti Charlie Zegeer
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information CenterUNC Highway Safety Research Center
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Presented atWALK21 Vienna Conference 2015
2
Presentation Overview
• Vision Zero Objectives• Study Approach• Vision Zero Strategies• Needed Resources • Questions/Answers
3
Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. First implemented in Sweden in the 1990s, Vision Zero has proved successful across Europe — and now it’s gaining momentum in major American cities.
Vision Zero Network
• New York City: Vision Zero seeks to eliminate all deaths from traffic crashes regardless of whether on foot, bicycle, or inside a motor vehicle.
• San Francisco: Vision Zero seeks to eliminate all road deaths in San Francisco by 2024 through education, enforcement, and road infrastructure re-design.
4
Worldwide Motor Vehicle Crashes
• 1.2 Million deaths per year
• 20 to 50 million non-fatal injuries
• Crash fatalities are comparable to deaths from all communicable diseases
Source: World Health Organization. (2013). Global Status Report on Road Safety: Supporting a Decade of
Action. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press.
Worldwide Motor Vehicle Crashes• 8th leading cause of death
worldwide; projected to be 5th by 2030
• Leading cause of death in the world for people 15 to 29 years old
• About half of the road fatalities are Vulnerable Road Users (pedestrians, cyclists, and users of motorized two-wheeled vehicles)
Source: World Health Organization. (2013). Global Status Report on Road Safety: Supporting a Decade of Action. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO
Press.
Number of Pedestrian Fatalities by Country
Source: World Health Organization. (2013). Global Status Report on Road Safety: Supporting a Decade of Action. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press.
ChinaIndia
Russia
Brazil
Indonesia Iran
Mexico USA
Japan
Pakistan
South Kore
a
Ukraine
Colombia
Bangladesh0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
Number of Pedestrian Deaths
8
Study Approach• International and National Search• Three comprehensive sources:
1. PEDSAFE Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System (Zegeer et al., 2013)
2. Evaluation of Pedestrian Related Roadway Measures: A Summary of Available Research (Zegeer et al., 2013)
3. Costs for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Infrastructure (Bushell et al., 2013)
• Nine Internet Transportation and Engineering DatabasesPeer-reviewed academic papers, city published studies and reports, conference presentations and periodicals, government publications and reports, web pages and articles
motor-vehicle trafficPartial Street Closures• Restrict access to only
resident and emergency vehicles
Safety Effects• Reduced average traffic
speeds and volumes• Aides in comprehensive,
area-wide traffic calming
12
Temporary Street Closures
Pedestrian Activity Closures• Street used to promote
pedestrian safety and walking through activities and events
“Pedestrian Paradises”• Regularly scheduled,
usually weekly, (i.e. Weekends from noon to 6pm as used in Japan and Australia)
Safety Effects• Improves overall walking
environment• Promotes walk-friendly
cultureGinza Pedestrian Paradise in Tokyo, Japan.
13
Senior Zones
• Increases awareness of seniors
• Slows traffic to safer speeds• Accommodates specific needs
of seniors at crossing locations
Safety Effects• Reduced vehicle speeds• Reduced crash risk for seniors• Increased safety perceptionsChicago and Phoenix- Senior crashes reduced 13.7% throughout city and 46.4% within senior zones.Singapore- Senior “Silver Zones” opened in 2014 have already improved safety perceptions.
• Vertical traffic control measures at crossings and midblock locations used to reduce vehicle speeds, increase driver visibility, improve accessibility and eliminate the need for curb ramps.
• Not Speed HumpsSafety Effects• Reduced vehicle speeds• Improved visibility• Increased driver-yielding• Better access for pedestrians with
disabilities• Emergency vehicle issues
21
Modern Roundabouts
• Replaces the need for controlled intersections by allowing vehicles to flow into the circle and yield rather than stop
Safety Effects• Increased driver-yielding• Reduced vehicle speeds• Reduced conflicts and
crashes• May complicate access
for visually impaired pedestrians
Refuge Islands & Curb Ramps• Raised areas in the roadway
medians that protect pedestrians attempting to cross and break the crossing into two stages
• Can be constructed at angles to the right so that pedestrians look in direction of oncoming traffic
Safety Effects• Reduced conflicts and
crashes • Increased driver yielding
rates and distance• Improved pedestrian
scanning behavior and reduced exposure time
22
Bottom: Mid-block diagonal pedestrian refuge island with
curb extensions
23
Parking Restrictions at Crossings—Daylighting• Involves removing parking
spaces adjacent to curbs• Commonly used with curb
extensions, pavement marking or vertical delineators
• Electronic devices installed at midblock locations and intersections to monitor and enforce posted speed limits.
• They allow for non-manual enforcement and gathering of photographic evidence.
Safety Effects• Improves driver speed
compliance.• Reduces vehicle speeds.• May reduce crashes.• Should be accompanied with
extensive public awareness and information campaigns.
31
Legislation
A wide range of legislation changes can be effective in improving pedestrian safety. These include:1. Area-wide speed limit reduction2. Safe routes to school funding and programs.3. Stronger motorist yielding laws4. Stricter consequences for drunk driving
Safety Effects• May reduce vehicle speeds, improve pedestrian and motorist
behavior, and crash risk
What Can Agencies Do Now to Implement a Vision Zero Program?
• Designate pedestrian safety as a emphasis area• Identify key stakeholders and champions• Analyze pedestrian crash data• Quantify crash characteristics & location clusters • Identify crash problems and establish goals
– Reduce 10% of child crashes each year– Reduce nighttime ped./bike crashes by 25% by year 2018– Reduce senior pedestrian crashes by 5% per year
• List safety measures to accomplish goals• Develop a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan• Secure funding and Implement 3 E’s and policy changes to meet
Vision Zero goals
Questions?
Charles V. Zegeer Director, Pedestrian and Bicycle Information
Center Associate Director for Engineering and Planning,