An analysis of pedestrian safety at bus stops using FARS data

Area of Science:

• Traffic Safety Research
• Urban Planning
• Pedestrian Behavior Analysis

Background:

• Bus stops require safe pedestrian access for transit users.
• Previous studies lacked transit-specific data, leading to inaccurate crash attributions.
• This research analyzes fatal pedestrian crashes related to transit bus stops using FARS data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To differentiate and analyze fatal pedestrian crashes specifically related to transit bus stops.
• To identify unique risk factors associated with transit bus stop environments.
• To compare these crashes with other nearby fatal pedestrian incidents.

Main Methods:

• Utilized descriptive analysis, crosstabulation, and binary logit models.
• Employed hierarchical clustering to identify crash scenarios.
• Compared crashes within quarter- and half-mile radii of bus stops.

Main Results:

• Midblock locations, roadside waiting pedestrians, and bus involvement significantly increase transit bus stop-related crash odds.
• Midblock crashes showed 4.7 to 5.2 times higher odds of being transit bus stop-related.
• Identified three distinct crash scenarios: intersection crossings, roadside waiting at midblock stops, and midblock crossings.

Conclusions:

• Transit passenger journeys involve distinct crash types, with midblock stops posing the highest risk.
• Enhancing pedestrian crossing safety and reducing vehicle speeds are crucial.
• Direct evaluation of bus stop conditions is vital for improving passenger safety.