Alan M. Voorhees Transportation CenterEdward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public PolicyRutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Catherine B. Bull, MCRPLeigh Ann Von Hagen, AICP, PPAndrea LubinGayathri ShivaramanDaniel Chibbaro

AbstractPolice officers can be important sources of information regarding identification of challenging pedestrian crossings like pedestrian near-miss incidents.

MethodologyPolice officers who are involved in traffic safety duties for their department completed the survey.

The survey was conducted during November and December of 2015. VTC sent the survey to the NJ Police Traffic Officers Association, crossing guard trainers, and the NJ State Association of Chiefs of Police.

The survey effort received 176 valid responses.

Nearly 30% of respondents reported that they did not have school crossings that were challenging for pedestrians in their municipalities.

A total of 186 challenging locations were identified.

BackgroundThe shortcomings of using crash data to evaluate pedestrian safetyCrash data alone may not be sufficient to present an accurate map of hazardous pedestrian crossings. Crash data are subject to variability. Furthermore, pedestrian crashes are relatively rare events, and do not capture the everyday challenges pedestrians face at road crossings.

Data on near-miss occurrences can reflect challenges for pedestrians and used to predict the potential for crashes. Local, regional, and state agencies may use these data to help prevent future crashes.

Surveying traffic safety officers to evaluate pedestrian safetyTraffic safety officers understand their communities and street safety conditions. They can provide valuable insight into the pedestrian experience at intersections they monitor.

Key FindingsInformation SourcesPolice identified pedestrian near misses as significantly more common than pedestrian crashes at crossings identified as challenging.

Crossing guards serve as important sources of information on conditions affecting pedestrian safety. Officers also receive complaints from other local sources, such as community members.

In large cities, police officers were aware of crashes at 21% of identified crossings but were aware of pedestrian near misses with vehicles at 81% of identified crossings.

Contributing ConditionsThe most common identified factors contributing to pedestrian challenges were traffic volume, turning vehicles, and traffic speed. Transit stops and driveways posed more of a problem in urban environments.

Key FindingsRoad JurisdictionAlmost 60% of the crossings identified as most challenging were located on county roads. Coordination between municipalities and counties to address road safety is difficult.

Take-Away for PracticePredictable is PreventableState DOTs, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and other agencies need to employ more than crash data when prioritizing safety improvements. Pedestrian crashes alone may not be an effective predictor of future conflict. Near miss data may be more predictive of future pedestrian-vehicle conflict and can support efforts to prevent serious pedestrian injury or death.

Police officers, crossing guards, parents, and children with direct experience can provide transportation professionals, engineers and planners with relevant information to make decisions about infrastructure improvements. A means of sharing the findings of this research with state and county engineers and planners is an important step toward addressing pedestrian safety.

AcknowledgementsWe thank the Federal Highway Administration, the New Jersey Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program, and the NJ Police Traffic Officers Association for the support they have provided throughout this research.

For More InformationNJ Safe Routes to School Resource CenterAlan M. Voorhees Transportation Center Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy Rutgers, The State University of New Jerseysrts@ejb.rutgers.edu (848) 932-7901 saferoutesnj.orgnjcrossingguards.org

» Police crash reports may be incomplete or inconsistent.

» Pedestrian crashes are relatively rare events.

» Crash data identifies crossings with documented incidents, overlooking challenging pedestrians crossings.

» Crash information may be dated, failing to reflect current conditions and recent improvements.

» Definition: situation where a motorist and/or pedestrian had to take sudden evasive action to avert a collision.

» Data can expose everyday challenges for pedestrians

» May be used to predict potential crashes.

Crashes Near-MissesVS

Municipal Road

County Road

State Road

County Number of Challenging Intersections

Bergen 29Monmouth 21Camden 19Burlington 18Essex 17Union 16Ocean 12Mercer 9Middlesex 9Morris 9Atlantic 7Passaic 7Hudson 4Sussex 3Cumberland 2Gloucester 2Hunterdon 1Somerset 1

Total 186

Predictable is Preventable: Tracking Near-Miss Incidents