Model Pedestrian Safety Program: User's Guide

Knoblauch, Richard L.; Crigler, Kristy L. · 1987 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration

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Summary

This document, titled *Model Pedestrian Safety Program: User’s Guide*, serves as a comprehensive manual for localities, civic groups, and government agencies to plan, implement, and evaluate pedestrian safety initiatives. Published in 1987 by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the guide addresses the lack of coordinated, rational approaches to pedestrian safety, which often results in haphazard efforts. It provides a structured six-step process to identify hazards, select effective countermeasures, and maintain long-term safety improvements. The methodology centers on a systematic six-step framework. Step 1 involves determining the extent of the problem through three data sources: citizen complaints, accident analysis, and behavioral analysis. Accident analysis utilizes a causal chain approach, classifying incidents into specific "accident types" based on behavioral failures in a sequence of events (search, detection, evaluation, decision, and action). Tools such as Computer Accident Typing (CAT) or Manual Accident Typing (MAT) are recommended for this classification. Behavioral analysis involves observing non-collision behaviors at specific locations to assess hazard levels. Step 2 identifies alternative solutions categorized into the "three Es" of safety: Engineering (e.g., crosswalks, lighting, grade separation), Education (e.g., school programs, media campaigns), and Enforcement (e.g., ordinances, crossing guards). Step 3 selects the best alternatives by comparing anticipated benefits and costs. Step 4 covers implementation logistics, including policy goals, coordination, and financial resources. Step 5 outlines methods for evaluating the effectiveness of implemented countermeasures. Step 6 emphasizes maintaining the program through continual monitoring and feedback to Step 1. The guide provides detailed resources for matching specific accident types to appropriate countermeasures. It includes tables correlating 14 common accident types—such as "Dart-Out," "Intersection Dash," and "Multiple Threat"—with specific engineering, educational, and enforcement interventions. For instance, engineering solutions like safety islands and signalization are linked to specific behavioral failures, while educational programs are targeted at specific demographics, including preschool children, older adults, and the general public. The document also references a supplementary volume that offers a "cookbook" of detailed countermeasure information. The significance of this guide lies in its provision of a standardized, evidence-based framework for pedestrian safety management. By moving away from uncoordinated efforts toward a rational, data-driven process, it enables jurisdictions to effectively reduce fatalities and injuries. The integration of behavioral analysis with traditional accident data allows for proactive identification of hazards before collisions occur. Furthermore, the structured approach to selecting and evaluating countermeasures ensures that resources are allocated efficiently, providing a sustainable model for improving pedestrian environments at state and local levels.

Key finding

The Model Pedestrian Safety Program provides a comprehensive six-step framework that integrates accident and behavioral data analysis with targeted engineering, educational, and enforcement countermeasures to systematically reduce pedestrian fatalities and injuries.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Topics

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• regulatory evaluation
• incidence prevalence
• pedestrian behavior perception

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation
• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes