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Evaluating the Effect of Roadside Parking on a Dual-Direction Urban Street
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Urban street structure and traffic safety
Dinesh Mohan1, Shrikant I Bangdiwala2, Andres Villaveces3
1Transportation Research & Injury Prevention Programme, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India; School of Engineering, Shiv Nadar University, Gautam Buddha Nagar, UP, India.
Journal of Safety Research
|September 9, 2017
Summary
Higher junction density correlates with lower traffic fatalities, while wider roads and arterial routes increase crash risks. Urban planning should prioritize smaller blocks and narrower roads for improved road safety.
Area of Science:
- Urban planning and transportation safety
- Road network analysis
- Traffic accident research
Background:
- Road type and junction density significantly influence urban road traffic fatality rates.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective road safety strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between road network characteristics and traffic fatality rates in U.S. cities.
- To determine the impact of junction density and road type on motor-vehicle and pedestrian fatalities.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data (2005-2010) for U.S. cities.
- Conducted a stratified random sample of 16 cities, comparing road layout details using TIGER maps.
- Performed statistical analysis to assess the effects of junction density and road type on fatality rates.
Main Results:
- Increased junction density per road length was associated with significantly lower motor-vehicle and pedestrian fatality rates.
- Greater road length correlated with higher fatalities, with arterial roads showing a disproportionately higher increase.
- A higher ratio of highways and main arterial roads was linked to increased fatality rates.
Conclusions:
- Road network design, established during the planning phase, critically impacts city-wide traffic fatality rates.
- Cities with wider roads and larger blocks tend to experience higher fatalities, necessitating enhanced safety measures.
- Urban planners can reduce fatalities by designing smaller city blocks and less wide roads.
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