Effect of Built Environment Factors on Pedestrian Safety in Portuguese Urban Areas

Barón, Leidy; da Costa, Jocilene Otila; Soares, Francisco; Faria, Susana; Jacques, Maria Alice Prudêncio; de Freitas, Elisabete Fraga · 2021 · DOAJ

DOI: 10.3390/asi4020028

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Summary

This study investigates the influence of built environment, pedestrian infrastructure, and road infrastructure factors on pedestrian safety in Portuguese urban areas. Motivated by high pedestrian fatality rates in Portugal and the global prevalence of urban pedestrian crashes, the research aims to identify specific environmental variables that contribute to crash frequency beyond traditional traffic exposure metrics. The authors highlight a gap in existing literature regarding the detailed analysis of pedestrian-specific infrastructure dimensions, such as sidewalk continuity and crosswalk spacing. The methodology employs a quantitative analysis using crash data from the Portuguese National Road Safety Authority for the period 2009–2015. Data were collected from locations in the counties of Braga and Guimarães. The study utilizes two modeling techniques: Zero-Truncated Negative Binomial (ZTNB) regression and Generalized Estimation Equations (GEE) to account for database limitations and data structure. The models incorporate 16 explanatory variables categorized into built environment (e.g., land use, bus stops, on-street parking), pedestrian infrastructure (e.g., sidewalk width, distance between crosswalks, longitudinal slope), road infrastructure (e.g., carriageway width, traffic directions, raised medians), and traffic exposure (pedestrian and vehicular volumes). The results identify several statistically significant factors influencing pedestrian safety. Variables such as longitudinal slope and greater distance between crosswalks negatively impact safety, increasing crash risk. Conversely, the presence of on-street parking, one-way streets, and raised medians contributes positively to safety, reducing crash likelihood. The study also confirms the negative influence of wider carriageways, consistent with prior research. Notably, the inclusion of pedestrian infrastructure variables allows for the assessment of specific design features, such as unobstructed sidewalk space and regulated crossing distances, which are often overlooked in broader safety analyses. The significance of this work lies in its comprehensive approach to pedestrian safety, integrating pedestrian infrastructure metrics into crash prediction models. By demonstrating that specific built environment and infrastructure design choices directly affect crash frequencies, the findings provide evidence-based recommendations for urban planning and policy. The results support the implementation of policies that prioritize pedestrian mobility, such as optimizing crosswalk spacing and managing on-street parking, to reduce risks for vulnerable road users in urban settings.

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• pedestrian behavior perception