Injury severity of pedestrians involved in road traffic crashes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tulu, Getu Segni; Washington, Simon; Haque, Md. Mazharul; King, Mark · 2017 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1080/19439962.2016.1199622

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Summary

This study investigates the factors influencing the injury severity of pedestrians involved in road traffic crashes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The research is motivated by the high prevalence of pedestrian crashes in the city, where walking accounts for approximately 60% of daily trips and pedestrian injuries constitute 85% of total injury crashes. Despite this, pedestrian infrastructure is severely lacking, with over 88% of roadways lacking footpaths. The study aims to identify specific roadway, traffic, spatial, and demographic factors that contribute to fatal and serious injuries, contrasting findings with established literature from developed countries to inform targeted safety interventions. The researchers analyzed police-reported data from 6,208 pedestrian crashes occurring between July 2009 and June 2012. To address unobserved heterogeneity and potential underreporting biases inherent in developing country datasets, the study employed a mixed logit model rather than traditional ordered probability models. The model evaluated 33 explanatory variables, including roadway geometry, vehicle types, driver demographics (education, experience, relationship to vehicle), pedestrian age, and land-use characteristics. Injury severity was categorized as fatal, serious, or slight, with slight injuries serving as the reference category. Key findings indicate that crashes occurring on high-speed roads (posted limits >60 km/h), at intersections, during nighttime, and involving heavy vehicles significantly increase the probability of fatal injuries. Specifically, nighttime crashes increased fatal injury risk by 13.6%, while crashes involving buses or minibuses raised the risk by 17.8%. Driver characteristics also played a critical role; drivers with primary education or less were 7.7% more likely to be involved in fatal crashes, and drivers with 2–5 years of experience posed higher risks than those with more experience. Notably, crashes involving non-owner drivers (family, friends, or casual drivers) resulted in more severe injuries than those involving vehicle owners, likely due to unfamiliarity with older, mechanically unsound vehicles. Pedestrian age showed a positive association with injury severity, with fatal risk rising sharply after age 60. The study highlights significant differences between Addis Ababa and developed nations, particularly regarding intersection safety and age-related vulnerability. In Addis Ababa, intersections are riskier due to aggressive driving, non-functional traffic signals, and low pedestrian awareness, whereas midblock crashes are typically more severe in developed countries. The findings suggest that infrastructure improvements, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and policies addressing vehicle maintenance and driver education are essential for reducing pedestrian fatalities in developing urban contexts.

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Topics

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• demographic disparities
• comparative international
• vru crash typology
• incidence prevalence
• fatality injury trends

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes