Model Regulations and Public Education for Rural-Suburban Pedestrian Safety

Hale, A. (Allen), 1938-; Blomberg, Richard D.; Kearney, Edward F. · 1980 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This 1980 report, prepared for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by Dunlap and Associates, Inc., addresses the development of countermeasures to reduce pedestrian accidents in rural, suburban, and freeway environments. Motivated by prior research identifying specific contributing factors to these accidents, the study aimed to determine which accident types were amenable to regulatory intervention versus public education. The project built upon the success of earlier urban pedestrian safety regulations, such as the Model Ice Cream Truck Ordinance, which had significantly reduced related accidents in Detroit. The methodology involved a two-phase process. In Phase I, researchers analyzed data from 23 rural/suburban and 14 freeway accident types, screening them against criteria such as countermeasure amenability, data representation, and behavioral realism. This screening narrowed the focus to 14 promising accident types. A brainstorming session with highway safety experts utilized a Problem/Solution Matrix to generate countermeasure concepts. In Phase II, the team developed fully articulated model regulations for accident types deemed unlikely to respond to education alone, and "stand-alone" public information and education (PI&E) materials for others. The development emphasized regulations with "self-apparent merit" to encourage voluntary compliance and PI&E materials that were behaviorally specific and realistic. The study produced four prototype model regulations intended for state-level adoption: 1. **Model Regulation for School Bus Pedestrians:** Mandates uniform bus appearance, compelling signaling devices (flashing lights, stop arms), convex mirrors for driver visibility, and minimum training requirements for drivers and safety education for pupils. 2. **Model Regulation for Pedestrians on Highways:** Requires pedestrians to walk on the left facing traffic when sidewalks are absent and mandates the use of conspicuity materials or devices during nighttime hours. 3. **Model Freeway Walking Restrictions Regulation:** Bans unnecessary foot traffic on freeways, with exceptions for dismounted motorists, police, and road workers, requiring posted signage of the ban. 4. **Model Vehicle Hazard Warning Lights Regulation:** Mandates the use of hazard warning lights by stopped and slow-moving vehicles to alert overtaking traffic. Additionally, the report presents initial concepts for four PI&E media packages: a pamphlet for school bus drivers, public service announcements for dismounted motorists, a flyer for parents regarding mailbox safety for children, and a pamphlet for road workers. The findings suggest that a combination of targeted legislative models and supportive or stand-alone educational materials offers a promising approach to reducing specific rural and suburban pedestrian accident types. The report concludes by outlining requirements for further development, implementation, and field testing to assess the effectiveness of these countermeasures.

Key finding

The development of four prototype model regulations and four public information media packages appeared promising for reducing target rural-suburban and freeway pedestrian accident types.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Topics

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• vru facing ehmi
• rail grade crossings
• regulatory evaluation
• signage environment
• bus coach
• vru conspicuity

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: policy recommendations