North Carolina Pedestrian Crash Facts · Pedestrian Crash Facts 2006 - 2010 Prepared for The North...

North Carolina

Pedestrian Crash Facts2006 - 2010

Prepared for

The North Carolina Department of TransportationDivision of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation

Prepared by

The University of North CarolinaHighway Safety Research Center

September 2012

Contents

Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 Table of Tables ............................................................................................................................................................... 4 General Trends .............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Where NC Pedestrian Crashes Occur ............................................................................................................................ 8 Pedestrian Characteristics ........................................................................................................................................... 12

Pedestrian Age ......................................................................................................................................................... 12 Pedestrian Gender ................................................................................................................................................... 13 Pedestrian Race/Ethnicity ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Pedestrian Injury Severity ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Pedestrian Alcohol Use ............................................................................................................................................ 16

Driver and Vehicle Characteristics ............................................................................................................................... 17 Driver Age ................................................................................................................................................................ 17 Driver Gender .......................................................................................................................................................... 18 Driver Race/Ethnicity ............................................................................................................................................... 18 Driver Injury Severity ............................................................................................................................................... 19 Driver Alcohol Use ................................................................................................................................................... 20 Vehicle Type............................................................................................................................................................. 20

Temporal and Environmental Factors ......................................................................................................................... 22 Month of Year .......................................................................................................................................................... 22 Day of the Week ...................................................................................................................................................... 23 Time of Day .............................................................................................................................................................. 24 Light Condition......................................................................................................................................................... 24 Weather ................................................................................................................................................................... 25

Roadway Characteristics .............................................................................................................................................. 26 Roadway Classification ............................................................................................................................................ 26 Road Type/ Configuration ........................................................................................................................................ 27 Number of Through Lanes ....................................................................................................................................... 27 Speed Limit .............................................................................................................................................................. 28

Table of Figures

Figure 1. From 2006-2010, the average annual number of crashes reported has been about 3% higher than for

2001 – 2005.. ................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Figure 3. Five-year pedestrian crash trends by region of NC. ........................................................................................ 6 Figure 4. Percentage of NC pedestrian crashes by pedestrian age range, 2006-2010. ............................................... 13 Figure 5. NC Pedestrian crashes by month of year, 2006-2010. ................................................................................. 23 Figure 6. NC Pedestrian crashes by day of the week, 2006-2010. ............................................................................... 23 Figure 7. NC pedestrian crashes by time of day, 2006-2010. ...................................................................................... 24 Figure 8. NC pedestrian crashes by light condition, 2006-2010. ................................................................................. 25 Figure 9. NC Pedestrian crashes by weather condition, 2006-2010. ........................................................................... 25 Figure 10. Road configuration and pedestrian crashes, 2006-2010. ........................................................................... 27 Figure 11. Pedestrian crashes by number of through traffic lanes. ............................................................................ 28 Figure 12. NC pedestrian crashes by posted speed limit of roadway. ......................................................................... 29

Table of Tables

Table 1. Five-year pedestrian crash injury levels.. ......................................................................................................... 7 Table 2. NC pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes by crash area development extent. ..................................................... 8 Table 3. NC pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes by area development type. .................................................................. 9 Table 4. Twelve NC counties with highest numbers of pedestrian crashes from 2006 to 2010 and average yearly

population-based crash rates. ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Table 5. Ten NC cities with highest numbers of pedestrian crashes from 2006-2010. ............................................... 11 Table 6. Age group of pedestrians involved in crashes. .............................................................................................. 12 Table 7. Pedestrian gender for those involved in crashes. .......................................................................................... 14 Table 8. Pedestrian race/ethnicity for those involved in crashes. ............................................................................... 15 Table 9. Pedestrian use of alcohol. .............................................................................................................................. 16 Table 10. Age of drivers involved in crashes with pedestrians. ................................................................................... 17 Table 11. Gender of drivers involved in crashes with pedestrians. ............................................................................ 18 Table 12. Race/ Ethnicity of drivers involved in pedestrian crashes. .......................................................................... 19 Table 13. Suspected alcohol use among drivers involved in crashes with pedestrians.............................................. 20 Table 14. Vehicle types involved in crashes with pedestrians. .................................................................................... 21 Table 15. Pedestrian crashes by roadway classification. ............................................................................................. 26

NC Pedestrian Crash Facts, 2006-2010

5

General Trends

Over the past ten years, 24,714 collisions between pedestrians and motor vehicles have been

reported to North Carolina authorities. The total pedestrian collisions rose fairly steadily from

2000 to 2004, after which the trend has leveled off. After decreases in reported crashes for

2008 and 2009,1 the number of pedestrian crashes reported in 2010 was 117 more than in

2009, representing a 5% one-year increase (Figure 1).

Figure 1. From 2006-2010, the average annual number of crashes reported has been about 3% higher

than for 2001 – 2005. Numbers in the chart are total urban and rural crashes reported.

Most of the rise in crashes over the decade has occurred in urban areas with a leveling off of

crashes observed in rural areas . Unfortunately, exposure data are lacking that might help to

explain these trends in reported crashes. Increasing urbanization of the State could potentially

contribute to the trend as well as an increasing trend of walking in cities and towns relative to

unincorporated areas.

1 Statewide, annual Vehicle Miles Traveled increased by 1.1% from 101.5 billion, to 102.6

billion from 2008 to 2009 for example, so a reduction in driving would not seem to explain

the drop in pedestrian crashes from 2008 to 2008. We lack sufficient data to know how the

amounts of walking may vary by year. There were also concerns by State officials that the

reporting of crashes for 2009 was not as complete compared to prior years.

6

The amount of walking would have the greatest impact on collision rates involving pedestrians,

but we lack data on amounts of walking in NC to compare between years. Another risk factor

would be motor vehicle traffic volumes. Motorized vehicle miles traveled declined on average

across the State (but not uniformly by county) in 2008 compared to 2007 for example. It is

possible that increases in walking (and bicycling) may have somewhat offset the decrease in

motorized travel, but again, there are no data to verify this conjecture.

Nearly two-thirds (60%) of reported pedestrian collisions from 2006 to 2010 occurred within

the counties in the Piedmont region, with 29% in the Coastal Plain counties, and the remaining

11% in the Mountain region of the State. (Crash trends by region are shown in Figure 2.) The

Piedmont region also accounts for most of the year-to-year fluctuations in crash numbers.

Figure 2. Five-year pedestrian crash trends by region of NC.

On average, 168 pedestrians were killed and another 187 were reported seriously injured in

each of the past five years with thousands more suffering evident or possible injuries (Table 1).∗

There seems to be a declining trend in disabling (A-type) injuries for the past two years.

∗ The number of pedestrians killed and injured reflects only the “first” pedestrian reported on in the crash. A few

crashes each year involve multiple pedestrians, and may include multiple injuries and fatalities. For example, in

2007, one collision resulted in 8 pedestrian fatalities. These circumstances are relatively rare, however, and in

order not to over-represent the number of crashes, the data contained in this report account for only the first

pedestrian, who was also verified as a pedestrian during review of the crash reports.


7

However, there were 19 more fatal pedestrian crashes in 2010 than in 2009, and the largest

number since 2006.

Table 1. Five-year pedestrian crash injury levels. (Counts are of crashes, with injury level of the first

pedestrian in each crash).

Pedestrian

Injury 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

K: Killed 182 167 165 153 172 839

7.6 1 6.8 6.8 6.6 7 7

2

A: Disabling

Injury

211 215 190 161 159 936

8.9 8.8 7.9 6.9 6.5 7.8

B: Evident

Injury

876 954 929 842 922 4523

36.7 39 38.4 36.3 37.6 37.6

C: Possible

Injury

942 982 996 1022 1014 4956

39.5 40.2 41.2 44 41.3 41.2

O: No Injury 173 127 139 143 187 769

7.3 5.2 5.7 6.2 7.6 6.4

Total 2384 2445 2419 2321 2454 12,023

4

19.8 3 20.3 20.1 19.3 20.4

1

Row percent of column total 2

Row total percent of total 3

Column total percent of total 4

Total includes the first pedestrian in crash less any cases with missing or unknown data

The remainder of this report summarizes the location types, person, time, environmental and

roadway characteristics for the 12,544 pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes that were reported

Statewide for 2006 - 2010. The number equates to approximately 2.7 pedestrian crashes per

10,000 residents Statewide. The information described in this report, and similar information

developed for local communities, can aid in the targeting of resources and countermeasures to

address pedestrian safety problems. Descriptions of the types of crashes, or events leading up

to the crash, are provided in the companion Pedestrian Crash Types Summary report.

These data may include non-injury collisions with low property damage which were not

officially “reportable” but had been reported to the State Division of Motor Vehicles. Non-

reportable collisions may not be included in other State crash statistics; however, since under-

reporting of pedestrian crashes is common, any “non-reported” collisions that involved

pedestrians were retained. As with all crash data, the reported numbers in the crash

characteristics that follow undoubtedly reflect some error, including errors or gaps in reporting,

as well as errors made during data entry and coding.

8

Where NC Pedestrian Crashes Occur

As illustrated in figure 1, more than two-thirds (71%) of NC pedestrian collisions over the past

five years occurred within municipal (urban) limits, with 30% in unincorporated areas of the

State (designated as rural). However, 54% of pedestrian fatalities occurred in rural areas. These

data are coded based on whether the crash was indicated as occurring within municipal

boundaries (urban), or not (rural), and may not accurately reflect area land use. The

percentage of collisions occurring in urban areas seems to be increasing slightly over time as

69% were reported to be urban in 2006 and nearly 73% in 2009 and 2010.

When looking at development density, as coded by the reporting enforcement agencies, the

picture becomes even more weighted toward pedestrian crashes occurring in at least

somewhat developed areas, with 84% of crashes occurring in areas that are at least 30 percent

developed (mixed + urban) and only 16% indicated to occur in areas that are less than 30%

developed (rural) (Table 2).

The areas that are between 30 and 70% developed may represent areas in transition, where

infrastructure is often still more rural in nature and traffic speeds remain high, while traffic

volumes and roadway complexity are increasing.

Table 2. NC pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes by crash area development extent.

Locality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

Rural (<30%

Developed)

369 405 354 341 379 1848

14.8 1 15.8 14.1 14 14.9 14.7

2

Mixed (30%

To 70%

Developed)

385 364 353 349 353 1804

15.5 14.2 14 14.4 13.9 14.4

Urban (>70%

Developed)

1736 1791 1812 1739 1814 8892

69.7 70 71.9 71.6 71.2 70.9

Total 2490 2560 2519 2429 2546 12,544

19.9 3 20.4 20.1 19.4 20.3 100

1 Row percent of column total

2 Row total percent of total

3 Column total percent of total

Reflecting the information on development extent, 49% of pedestrian crashes, on average,

occurred in areas indicated as commercial districts, 36% in residential areas (together 85%),

11% in areas designated as farms, woods, or pasture, and with smaller percentages in

institutional (3.5%) and industrial areas (0.5%) (Table 3).


9

Table 3. NC pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes by area development type.

Development Type 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

Farms, Woods,

Pastures

272 308 260 262 266 1368

10.9 1 12 10.3 10.8 10.4 10.9

2

Residential 896 911 913 843 945 4508

36 35.6 36.2 34.7 37.1 35.9

Commercial 1222 1258 1247 1215 1229 6171

49.1 49.1 49.5 50 48.3 49.2

Institutional 87 71 91 96 90 435

3.5 2.8 3.6 4 3.5 3.5

Industrial 13 12 8 13 16 62

0.5 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.5

Total 2490 2560 2519 2429 2546 12,544

19.9 3 20.4 20.1 19.4 20.3 100

1 Row percent of column total

2 Row total percent of total

3 Column total percent of total

Twelve counties are included in the list of counties with the highest numbers of pedestrian-

motor vehicle crashes for the recent five-year period. Each of these counties reported at least

200 crashes and several of the counties were very close in number (Table 4). The 12 counties

accounted for 61% of NC’s reported pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes. Most of the counties in

the list are highly urbanized. Thus, the high crash counties are, to a large extent, reflections of

where more people live in the State. However, the crash rates based on population do vary

among the high crash frequency counties from a low of 1.8 per 10,000 residents (Forsyth Co.) to

a high of 4.3 per 10,000 (Mecklenburg Co.). The average is 3.5 / 10,000 residents for these 12

counties. The county-level differences may reflect differences in extent of urbanization and

proximity of destinations, amounts or locations of walking by residents and visitors in the

different counties, in addition to other exposure and risk factors.

10

Table 4. Twelve NC counties with highest numbers of pedestrian crashes from 2006 to 2010 and

average yearly population-based crash rates.

County

Five-year

crash count

Percent of NC

total (12,544)

Average 1-

year count

July 2008

population

estimate

Avg. yearly

crash rate /

10,000

residents

Mecklenburg 1887 15 377.4 877,007 4.30

Wake 1347 10.7 269.4 864,429 3.12

Guilford 886 7.1 177.2 468,344 3.78

Cumberland 646 5.1 129.2 316,914 4.08

Durham 524 4.2 104.8 260,420 4.02

New Hanover 396 3.2 79.2 192,235 4.12

Buncombe 369 2.9 73.8 227,875 3.24

Gaston 335 2.7 67 204,971 3.27

Forsyth 317 2.5 63.4 343,704 1.84

Catawba 237 1.9 47.4 154,941 3.06

Robeson 235 1.9 47 130,316 3.61

Onslow 228 1.8 45.6 176,004 2.59

Cabarrus 204 1.6 40.8 170,406 2.39

Total - top 12 7611 60.7 1522.2 4,387,566 3.47

The ten cities with the highest numbers of pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes during this five-

year period are shown in Table 5. These ten cities together accounted for 44% of the State’s

12,544 reported pedestrian crashes for this period. Among North Carolina cities, Charlotte

accounts for 13.9% of statewide pedestrian crashes over the past five years, followed by

Raleigh (7.5%), Greensboro (4.8%), Fayetteville and Durham (4% each). The cities and counties

with the highest numbers of pedestrian crashes are generally those with the largest

populations. Again, there is not an exact correlation as shown by the population-based crash

rates in the right hand columns of Tables 5.

Other factors affecting the rate of crashes per population include the extent of walking by

residents and visitors, traffic volumes, characteristics of roadways where pedestrians walk, and

driver and pedestrian behaviors. The crash rate based on population averages 4.7 per 10,000

residents for these 10 cities.


11

Table 5. Ten NC cities with highest numbers of pedestrian crashes from 2006-2010.

City

Five-year

crash

count

Percent of

NC total

(12,544)

Average

1-year

count

July 2008

population

estimate

Avg. yearly

crash rate

/ 10,000

residents

Charlotte 1743 13.9 348.6 683,541 5.10

Raleigh 935 7.5 187 377,353 4.96

Greensboro 607 4.8 121.4 263,268 4.61

Fayetteville 504 4 100.8 181,481 5.55

Durham 499 4 99.8 228,480 4.37

Asheville 280 2.2 56 78,313 7.15

Wilmington 274 2.2 54.8 101,526 5.40

Winston-Salem 231 1.8 46.2 228,362 2.02

Gastonia 211 1.7 42.2 74,518 5.66

High Point 206 1.6 41.2 100,645 4.09

Total - 10 cities 5490 43.8 1098 2,317,487 4.74

The crash fact descriptions that follow are also undoubtedly related to exposure, or when and

where people choose to walk, who is walking (age, behaviors, and physical condition). Crash

numbers can also change over time simply due to chance, due to changes in crash reporting

procedures, due to weather or other factors such as economics that affect the amounts of

walking and driving, and also as a result of safety-related factors including engineering,

educational, and enforcement initiatives.

12

Pedestrian Characteristics

Pedestrian Age

It is difficult to draw firm conclusions about the year-to-year fluctuations in crash proportions

by age across these five years (Table 6). (Note that the younger age categories span five years,

while those beginning with age 31 span 10 year age groups.) Crash involvement by age reflects

both population numbers across the State and exposure or amount of walking among different

age groups, among other risk factors.

Table 6. Age group of pedestrians involved in crashes.

Pedestrian

Age 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

0-5 99 93 99 70 66 427

4 1 3.7 4 2.9 2.6 3.4

2

6-10 109 86 103 98 106 502

4.4 3.4 4.1 4.1 4.2 4

11-15 187 162 170 152 164 835

7.6 6.4 6.8 6.3 6.5 6.7

16-20 287 290 302 287 310 1476

11.6 11.4 12.1 11.9 12.3 11.9

21-25 273 275 275 288 295 1406

11 10.8 11 12 11.7 11.3

26-30 207 246 197 222 232 1104

8.4 9.7 7.9 9.2 9.2 8.9

31-40 377 381 396 365 361 1880

15.3 15 15.9 15.2 14.3 15.1

41-50 422 453 433 377 409 2094

17.1 17.9 17.4 15.7 16.2 16.9

51-60 267 270 295 301 314 1447

10.8 10.6 11.8 12.5 12.5 11.6

61-70 110 142 117 129 141 639

4.5 5.6 4.7 5.4 5.6 5.1

71+ 133 138 107 117 122 617

5.4 5.4 4.3 4.9 4.8 5

Total 2471 2536 2494 2406 2520 12,427

4

19.9 3 20.4 20.1 19.4 20.3

1






13

Combining age categories into larger ranges gives a picture of the overall crash involvement by

children, young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults (Figure 3). Children up to age 16,

on average, accounted for about 14% of pedestrian crash-involvement over this time period.

Teens and young adults between the ages of 16 and 30 accounted for 32%; middle aged adults

from 31 to 60 years account for 44%, and older adults 61 and up for 10%.

Figure 3. Percentage of NC pedestrian crashes by pedestrian age range, 2006-2010.

Pedestrian Gender

On average, males accounted for about 61% and females 39% of the pedestrians reported

involved in crashes over this five year period (Table 7). These percentages have remained

relatively the same over time.

14

Table 7. Pedestrian gender for those involved in crashes.

Pedestrian

Sex 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

Female 1521 1524 1499 1430 1553 7,527

62.3 1 60.4 60.3 59.9 61.8 61 2

Male 919 1000 987 957 959 4822

37.7 39.6 39.7 40.1 38.2 39

Total 2440 2524 2486 2387 2512 12,349 4

19.8 3 20.4 20.1 19.3 20.3

1





Pedestrian Race/Ethnicity

Pedestrian crashes in North Carolina are most likely to involve pedestrians reported to be of

White racial background (51%; Table 8). However, 39% of persons involved were reported to be

Black/African-American. Considering that Blacks comprised about 22% of persons living in the

State over this period, they are over-represented in pedestrian crashes based on population.

These proportions may reflect greater amounts of walking as well as other exposure factors.

Over this time period, those identified on crash report forms as Hispanic and persons of Asian

descent accounted for about 6% and around 1%, respectively, of pedestrians involved in

crashes each year. Native Americans also accounted for about 1% of the total. Persons not

identified in any of the other groups accounted for less than 1% of pedestrians involved in

collisions.


15

Table 8. Pedestrian race/ethnicity for those involved in crashes.

Pedestrian

Race 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

Asian 19 24 24 15 29 111

0.8 1 1 1 0.6 1.2 0.9

2

Black 948 967 948 936 1016 4815

39.4 38.7 38.7 39.7 41.1 39.5

Hispanic 136 170 158 136 139 739

5.7 6.8 6.4 5.8 5.6 6.1

Native

American

32 36 34 35 25 162

1.3 1.4 1.4 1.5 1 1.3

White 1257 1279 1260 1218 1242 6256

52.2 51.2 51.4 51.7 50.3 51.4

Other 15 20 27 17 20 99

0.6 0.8 1.1 0.7 0.8 0.8

Total 2407 2496 2451 2357 2471 12,182

4

19.8 3 20.5 20.1 19.3 20.3

1





Pedestrian Injury Severity

As shown in Table 1, pedestrian crashes tend to be especially serious with 7% of pedestrians

struck in North Carolina being killed on average, compared with about 0.3% fatalities for all

crash-involved people (mostly drivers and passengers). An additional 8% suffered serious (A-

type) injuries over the five years. Based on 2010 national data, North Carolina was ranked 7th

highest of U.S. states for pedestrian fatalities per capita (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2010 Data:

Pedestrians; available http://www-

nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/CMSWeb/listpublications.aspx?Id=A&ShowBy=DocType). [Note: NHTSA also

shows 3 fewer pedestrian fatalities in 2010 than the data compiled from North Carolina for

these reports.]

16

Pedestrian Alcohol Use

The investigating officer indicated alcohol use by an average of about 13% of the pedestrians

struck by motor vehicles over this five year period (Table 9). Suspected use does not

necessarily imply that the pedestrian was impaired at the time of the crash, but that evidence

of alcohol use was detected or suspected.

Table 9. Pedestrian use of alcohol.

Pedestrian

Alcohol 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

No 2206 2238 2194 2097 2229 10,964

88.7 1 87.4 87.2 86.5 87.8 87.5

2

Yes 282 322 322 326 310 1,562

11.3 12.6 12.8 13.5 12.2 12.5

Total 2488 2560 2516 2423 2539 12,526

4

19.9 3 20.4 20.1 19.3 20.3

1






17

Driver and Vehicle Characteristics

Driver Age

There were year-to-year fluctuations in the distributions of driver age group involved in

pedestrian crashes across the five years of data, but generally similar levels (Table 10). Younger

drivers up to age 24 accounted for about 25% of collisions with pedestrians over this time

period. But, there is an apparent decreasing trend among drivers aged 16 to 20 in keeping with

overall reduced crash involvement among teen drivers. Conversely, adults of ages 51 and

upwards may be accounting for a larger share of crashes (and possibly greater numbers),

perhaps related to aging driver population trends.

Table 10. Age of drivers involved in crashes with pedestrians.

Driver

Age 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

< 11 yrs 2 8 0 0 1 10

0.1 1 0.4 0 0 0 0.5 2

11-15 4 11 10 9 7 41

0.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.4

16-20 270 256 269 217 251 1263

13.3 12.2 12.8 10.9 11.9 12.2

21-25 260 270 251 240 261 1282

12.8 12.8 11.9 12 12.4 12.4

26-30 206 213 214 227 238 1098

10.2 10.1 10.1 11.4 11.3 10.6

31-40 386 403 364 350 346 1849

19.1 19.1 17.3 17.5 16.4 17.9

41-50 348 333 375 317 352 1725

17.2 15.8 17.8 15.9 16.7 16.7

51-60 261 277 305 311 300 1454

12.9 13.2 14.5 15.6 14.2 14.1

61-70 150 180 190 174 198 892

7.4 8.6 9 8.7 9.4 8.6

71+ 138 154 131 151 156 730

6.8 7.3 6.2 7.6 7.4 7.1

Total 2025 2105 2109 1996 2110 10,345 4

19.6 3 20.3 20.4 19.3 20.4 1




Total includes the first driver in crash less any cases missing driver age data (including for unidentified hit and run drivers).

18

Driver Gender

Male drivers accounted for 56% of the pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes over the five years,

and female drivers about 44% although year-to-year fluctuations are apparent (Table 11). .

Table 11. Gender of drivers involved in crashes with pedestrians.

Driver

Sex 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

Male 1205 1162 1156 1142 1166 5831

59.5 1 55.2 54.6 57.1 55.2 56.3 2

Female 821 944 961 859 947 4532

40.5 44.8 45.4 42.9 44.8 43.7

Total 2026 2106 2117 2001 2113 10,363 4

19.6 3 20.3 20.4 19.3 20.4

1





Driver Race/Ethnicity

White drivers were involved in about 60% and Black drivers 32% of the crashes with

pedestrians (Table 12). Blacks have greater representation as pedestrians in collisions than as

drivers, although they are over-represented as drivers based on population in the State.

Hispanic drivers accounted for about 5% of collisions with pedestrians, and Asians and Native

Americans about 1% each according to information from police crash-reports.


19

Table 12. Race/ Ethnicity of drivers involved in pedestrian crashes.

Driver Race 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

Asian 16 18 17 30 28 109

0.8 1 0.9 0.8 1.5 1.3 1.1 2

Black 644 657 723 630 676 3330

32.1 31.4 34.4 31.7 32.3 32.4

Hispanic 104 119 87 78 80 468

5.2 5.7 4.1 3.9 3.8 4.5

Native

American

27 26 26 17 20 116

1.3 1.2 1.2 0.9 1 1.1

White 1192 1253 1222 1212 1267 6146

59.5 59.8 58.1 60.9 60.5 59.8

Other 22 21 27 23 24 117

1.1 1 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.1

Total 2005 2094 2102 1990 2095 10,286 4

19.5 3 20.4 20.4 19.3 20.4

1





Driver Injury Severity

As would be expected, drivers are not often seriously injured in crashes with pedestrians, with

95% of drivers reported to receive no injuries, about 3% possibly receiving injuries, and another

2% receiving evident injuries (data not shown). However, there were five reported driver

fatalities associated with pedestrian collisions over this time period and another 11 reported

disabling driver injuries (A-type).

20

Driver Alcohol Use

The investigating officer detected or suspected alcohol use by the drivers involved in pedestrian

crashes in an average of about 5% of the crashes for all five years (Table 13). This means that

the investigating police officer reported detecting alcohol or suspicion of alcohol use; it does

not necessarily imply intoxication.

Table 13. Suspected alcohol use among drivers involved in crashes with pedestrians.

Driver

Alcohol 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

No 2003 2072 2054 1974 2084 10187

95.4 1 95.5 95.4 95.4 95.3 95.4

2

Yes 96 97 100 96 102 491

4.6 4.5 4.6 4.6 4.7 4.6

Total 2099 2169 2154 2070 2186 10,678

4

19.7 3 20.3 20.2 19.4 20.5

1





Vehicle Type

Most vehicles involved in crashes with pedestrians are passenger vehicles, including cars,

pickups, light trucks/mini vans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and vans, which together

accounted for about 95% of collisions with pedestrians (Table 14). While passenger cars

accounted for the majority (56%), SUVs accounted for 17%, pickups 15%, and other light trucks,

vans and mini-vans combined for about 8%.

Although accounting for smaller proportions, heavier vehicles tend to result in more severe

injuries to pedestrians. School and activity buses have been involved in an average of about 6

crashes per year with pedestrians over the past five years. Commercial buses were involved in

nearly 9 pedestrian collisions per year across the State. Police and other emergency vehicles

accounted for 67 collisions with pedestrians. Commercial types of vehicles including vans, single

unit trucks, taxicabs, heavy trucks, and emergency and other types of vehicles account for the

remaining crashes with pedestrians. Six-wheel and larger trucks and tractors accounted for less

than 2% of these collisions. However, heavier vehicles tend to be associated with a larger

percentage of fatalities and serious injuries.


21

Table 14. Vehicle types involved in crashes with pedestrians.

Driver Vehicle Type 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

Passenger Car 1224 1225 1234 1158 1253 6094

56.9 1 54.4 55.1 54.5 55.6 55.3 2

Pickup 324 319 333 323 313 1612

15 14.2 14.9 15.2 13.9 14.6

Light Truck (Mini-Van, Panel) 51 49 46 39 39 224

2.4 2.2 2.1 1.8 1.7 2

Sport Utility 307 377 369 398 419 1870

14.3 16.7 16.5 18.7 18.6 17

Van 127 165 138 136 129 695

5.9 7.3 6.2 6.4 5.7 6.3

Commercial Bus 11 7 15 4 11 48

0.5 0.3 0.7 0.2 0.5 0.4

School Bus 8 5 5 6 7 31

0.4 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3

Activity Bus 0 1 0 0 0 1

0 0 0 0 0 0

Other Bus 3 3 1 2 2 11

0.1 0.1 0 0.1 0.1 0.1

Single Unit Truck (2-Axle, 6-Tire) 27 23 31 14 16 111

1.3 1 1.4 0.7 0.7 1

Single Unit Truck (3 Or More

Axles)

11 5 7 2 7 32

0.5 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.3

Truck/Trailer 6 12 8 5 10 41

0.3 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.4

Truck/Tractor 1 1 1 1 2 6

0 0 0 0 0.1 0.1

Tractor/Semi-Trailer 14 18 17 6 14 69

0.7 0.8 0.8 0.3 0.6 0.6

Tractor/Doubles 0 0 1 2 0 3

0 0 0 0.1 0 0

Unknown Heavy Truck 2 3 3 2 0 10

0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 0.1

Taxicab 7 6 10 2 2 27

0.3 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.2

Farm Tractor 0 0 0 0 1 1

0 0 0 0 0 0

Motorcycle 11 9 6 14 8 48

0.5 0.4 0.3 0.7 0.4 0.4

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Driver Vehicle Type 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

Motor Home/Recreational

Vehicle

1 2 5 6 4 18

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2

Other 1 0 1 0 0 2

0 0 0 0 0 0

All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) 0 0 1 0 0 1

0 0 0 0 0 0

Fire truck 2 0 0 0 0 2

0.1 0 0 0 0 0

EMS Vehicle, Ambulance,

Rescue Squad

0 6 0 0 2 8

0 0.3 0 0 0.1 0.1

Police 15 15 9 4 14 57

0.7 0.7 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.5

Total 2153 2251 2241 2124 2253 11,022 4

19.5 3 20.4 20.3 19.3 20.4 1




Total includes the first vehicle in crash less any cases missing vehicle data (including for unidentified hit and run vehicle types).

Temporal and Environmental Factors

Month of Year

Pedestrian crashes occur throughout the year. Monthly peaks vary from year to year, but

pedestrian crashes typically begin increasing in August with the highest average numbers

occurring in the fall months of October to December, when daylight periods are decreasing and

children and college-age students have returned to school (Figure 4).


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Figure 4. NC Pedestrian crashes by month of year, 2006-2010.

Day of the Week

Pedestrian crashes in NC are fairly evenly spread throughout the week, but on average, were

most likely to occur on a Friday (17%), with the second highest percentage occurring on

Saturdays (15%). Pedestrian crashes were least likely to occur on a Sunday (11%; Figure 5).

Again, there was year-to-year variability, but these trends were fairly consistent from year to

year.

Figure 5. NC Pedestrian crashes by day of the week, 2006-2010.

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Time of Day

Pedestrian crashes were most likely to occur in the afternoon and early evening between the

hours of 3 to 6 pm and 6 to 9 pm (Figure 6). About 41% of pedestrian collisions occurred during

these six hours. The third highest crash period was between noon to 3 pm (15%). There were

also more pedestrian crashes between 9 pm and midnight than during peak morning travel

time (6 to 9 am) suggesting over-involvement of pedestrians in crashes at night; exposure data

to test this hypothesis are, however, lacking. Nearly 7% of pedestrians were struck between

midnight and 3 am, with 3% involved during the hours between 3 and 6 am.

Figure 6. NC pedestrian crashes by time of day, 2006-2010.

Light Condition

While 56% of collisions occurred during daylight hours, over 43% of pedestrian crashes over the

past five years have occurred during non-daylight conditions, including dawn and dusk.

Twenty-one percent of crashes occurred at night on lighted roadways (typically urban roads)

and 18% occurred at night on roadways indicated to have no supplemental lighting (Figure 7).

Those struck at night on unlighted roadways were nearly three times more likely to be killed

(nearly 19%) compared with those struck at night on lighted roadways (7%; data not shown).

The increased rate of fatalities on unlighted streets likely reflects a number of factors including

higher speeds associated with rural (unlit) roads, and perhaps a decreased tendency for drivers

to detect and slow before striking pedestrians on these roadways.


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Figure 7. NC pedestrian crashes by light condition, 2006-2010.

Weather

The vast majority (92%) of pedestrian crashes occurred under clear (77%) or cloudy (15%)

weather conditions on average (Figure 8), no doubt reflecting exposure. Year-to-year variation

in the number of crashes occurring under rainy, snowy/icy, or foggy/smoky conditions is also

likely a reflection of exposure to these conditions (e.g., more pedestrian crashes under rainy or

snowy conditions in years when the State received more snowfall).

Figure 8. NC Pedestrian crashes by weather condition, 2006-2010.

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Roadway Characteristics

Roadway Classification

Nearly half (47%) of all pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes occurred on local (mostly city) streets

reflecting higher levels of walking and numbers of pedestrians in cities and neighborhoods

(Table 14). Around 27% of reported pedestrian crashes in this five year period occurred in

parking lots, public driveways, or other public vehicular areas. Another 11% occurred along

State Secondary routes. All other roadway classifications accounted for about 13% of the total,

including around 5% on NC Routes, 6% on US Routes, and approximately 2% on Interstate

Routes. Collisions on interstates often involve pedestrians associated with disabled vehicles or

who were involved in a prior vehicle-to-vehicle collision. Collisions that occurred on private

property were reported frequently enough to comprise about 3% of crashes. There are also

likely to be inaccuracies in these data, with many crashes that occurred within urban areas

coded as on local streets, although they are often NC, US or State Secondary routes.

Table 15. Pedestrian crashes by roadway classification.

Road

Classification 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total

Interstate 44 40 45 49 46 224

1.8 1 1.6 1.8 2 1.8 1.8 2

US Route 151 160 145 145 140 741

6.1 6.3 5.8 6 5.5 5.9

NC Route 142 127 126 106 121 622

5.7 5 5 4.4 4.8 5

State Secondary

Route

300 300 276 237 284 1397

12 11.7 11 9.8 11.2 11.1

Local Street 1136 1194 1174 1108 1226 5838

45.6 46.6 46.6 45.6 48.2 46.5

Public Vehicular

Area

647 649 686 705 662 3349

26 25.4 27.2 29 26 26.7

Private Road,

Driveway

70 90 67 79 67 373

2.8 3.5 2.7 3.3 2.6 3

Total 2421 2490 2560 2519 2429 12,419

4

19.5 3

20 20.6 20.3 19.6 100 1




Total includes all crashes less cases with missing data.


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Road Type/ Configuration

On average, nearly three-fourths (74%) of pedestrian collisions occurred on two-way, undivided

roadways, about 12% on two-way roads divided by a median, with 8% on two-way roads

divided with a positive median barrier (often freeways), and about 5% on one-way roads or

sections (Figure 9).

Figure 9. Road configuration and pedestrian crashes, 2006-2010.

Number of Through Lanes

Number of lanes indicated should reflect number of through lanes, excluding limited turn lanes

and other non-continuing lanes. The figure below excludes pedestrian crashes that occurred in

parking lots and other non-roadway locations (Figure 10). The majority (60%) of reported on-

roadway pedestrian crashes occurred on two-lane roads (a consistent 59 - 60% each year),

while approximately 30% occurred on multi-lane roadways with four or more travel lanes.

Three-lane roadways accounted for 6% and one-lane roads or sections for 5%.

The numbers of crashes reflect amounts of walking and driving on roadways with different

numbers of lanes as well as other possible differences in risk exposure to crashes. There are

also likely to be some inaccuracies in these data, with interpretation of numbers of lanes

varying based on divided/undivided, presence of two-way turn lanes and other roadway

characteristics.

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Figure 10. Pedestrian crashes by number of through traffic lanes.

Speed Limit

On average, two-thirds (58%) of NC’s pedestrian crashes took place on roads indicated to have

speed limits of 35 mph or less, likely reflecting speeds on urban streets and commercial

thoroughfares where more pedestrians tend to be found (Table 16). (Note that 15% of cases

did not have speed limit data indicated. Roadways operating under default statutory

maximums of 35 mph in urban areas and 55 mph in rural areas may not be posted, or police

officers may not locate a posted limit sign.) The 40-45 mph roadways accounted for about 15%

of pedestrian collisions, more than roadways of 20–25 mph (13%). Roadways of 50 mph and

above accounted for 13%.

Crashes on higher speed roads may be especially severe. While less than 2% of those struck on

roads with speed limits of 25 mph and lower were killed, the proportions begin to climb rapidly,

with about 4% of those struck on 30–35 mph roads being killed. The proportions of struck

pedestrians who were killed were 12%, 21%, and 37% of those struck on 40–45 mph, 50–55

mph, and 60–75 mph roadways, respectively. In total, 71% of pedestrians killed, were struck on

roadways with speed limits of 40 mph and greater. (Note that we do not have good information

on actual travel speeds of the striking vehicles, but the speed limit of the roadway provides

some information about the general travel speed.)


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Figure 11. NC pedestrian crashes by posted speed limit of roadway.

For more information about pedestrian crashes in North Carolina and events leading up to the

crashes, see the North Carolina Pedestrian Crash Types, 2006-2010 summary report.

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