An overview on pedestrians involved in traffic accidents in Latvia: Years 2010-2014

Bukova-Zideluna, A.; Villerusa, A.; Lama, A. · 2018 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1051/shsconf/20184001004

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (DOI — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

This study analyzes pedestrian involvement in road traffic accidents in Latvia from 2010 to 2014, addressing the critical safety situation for vulnerable road users. Pedestrians account for more than a quarter of all traffic accidents in the country, and Latvia has one of the highest risk rates for road user fatalities in the European Union. The research aims to identify correlations between injury severity and demographic characteristics, as well as crash circumstances such as weather, lighting, and road typology. The analysis utilized data from the Road Traffic Safety Directorate’s database, which covers nearly 100% of accidents reported to traffic police. The dataset included 5,030 pedestrians involved in accidents, with variables such as age, sex, injury severity, environmental conditions (light, weather, season, day of week), location, and blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-squared tests to determine significant associations. The results indicate that while the total number of accidents remained stable, the fatality rate increased over the five-year period. Of the 5,030 cases, 92.4% involved injuries and 6.8% were fatal. Demographically, males and older adults (55+) faced higher fatality rates, while the 35–54 age group experienced higher rates of serious injuries. Environmental factors significantly influenced outcomes: 69.9% of fatalities occurred during twilight or darkness, and 56.1% occurred in adverse weather conditions. Seasonal analysis revealed higher fatality percentages in autumn and higher serious injury rates in winter and spring. Although accidents were four times more frequent on weekdays, fatality and serious injury rates were higher on weekends. Geographically, 55.3% of accidents occurred in Riga, but the highest fatality rates were on main state roads. Additionally, 8.1% of pedestrians had alcohol in their blood, with a higher fatality rate associated with exceeded BAC levels. The study concludes that pedestrian fatalities are linked to preventable risk factors, including male gender, older age, intoxication, poor visibility, and high-speed roads. The authors emphasize that separating road users and implementing environmental and behavioral measures are essential for improving safety. They suggest that reflective materials could mitigate risks in low-light conditions and that educational programs should address pedestrian alcohol consumption. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to reduce the disproportionate risk faced by pedestrians in Latvia.

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed.

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• comparative international