Health and Transportation Partners:Working to Improve

Pedestrian Safety in Oregon

Safe States Pedestrian Safety Action Team Program

Training and Mini-Grant OpportunityJune 11, 2014

Outline of Today’s TrainingSession 1: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm

• Safe States Program Overview • Healthy Communities and Transportation Framework• Oregon Pedestrian Injury and Fatality Data• Components of a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan• The Five Es and Education Strategies• Q&A

Session 2: 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm• Enforcement Strategies• Engineering Strategies• Mini-Grant Opportunity• Q&A

Pedestrian Safety Intervention RationalePedestrian safety is an important health issue.

Safety creates walkable neighborhoods, with many health benefits.

Safer streets mean pedestrian friendly streets Better accessibility for all ages, all abilities Rates of physical activity for ↓ cancer, diabetes, heart disease Improved air quality for ↓ respiratory disease and cancer Community interaction, security and social cohesion

Pedestrian safety cannot be addressed by one field alone.

Engineering Public health Public safetyTraffic safety City planning School safety

Oregonians and Americans want safe, walkable communities.

“Whether you live in a city or a small town, and whether you drive a car, take the bus, or ride a train: at some point in the day, everyone is a pedestrian. We all have a reason to support pedestrian safety.”

– U.S. DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx

Safe States Program Overview• Safe States Alliance – National 501(c)(3) NHTSA & CDC funding• Provided state-level program grant funding (OR, KY, CA, RI)

– Oregon Public Health Division Injury & Violence Prevention Program

• Funded Activities– 3-day state-level capacity building workshop (March 2014)– Statewide training to local partners (today)– Mini-grant funding to local partners for education,

enforcement, evaluation (Sept 2014 to July 2015)– Technical assistance for grantees (Sept 2014 to July 2015)– Evaluation (through March 2016)

Healthy Communitiesand

Transportation Framework

What Creates Health?

Adapted from McGinnis JM, Foege WH. Actual causes of death in the United States. JAMA 1993; 270:2207-2212.

Genetic Predisposi-tion; 30%

Social Cir-cumstances,

15%

Environmental Exposure, 5%Medical Care; 10%

Behaviors, 40%

Determinants of Health and Their Contribution to Premature Death

Pedestrian Injury Examples

Driver Training

EMS

Seat Belts, Ignition Lock

Road design, Licensing, Speed Limit, Mode Shift

Socioeconomic Factors

Changing the Contextto make individuals’ default

decisions healthy

Long-lasting Protective Interventions

ClinicalInterventions

Counseling & Education

Greatest Population

Impact

Health Impact Pyramid

GreatestIndividual

Effort

Rates of Vehicle Ownership,Funding for Infrastructure

Public Health: Policy, Systems, Environment Approach

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• Population ApproachAll users, all modes, “8 to 80”

• Needs of Walkers and BikersSafetyAccessConvenienceComfortSocial Acceptability

• The Five E’sEducationEncouragementEnforcementEngineeringEvaluation

Transportation as a Social Determinant of Health

The leading causes of death in Oregon are powerfully influenced by transportation choices and options.

1. Cancer2. Heart disease3. Chronic lower respiratory disease4. Stroke5. Unintentional injuries

Oregon Death Certificate Data, 2012. Leading Causes of Death, Oregon, 2012.

Pedestrian Safety: One Strategy, Multiple Benefits

• Reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries;

• Increase physical activity to reduce rates of diabetes, cancer and other chronic diseases;

• Cut air pollution that contributes to respiratory and heart illnesses;

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and

• Alleviate the high cost of transportation to users and to system.

Immeasurable Benefits to Walking“People out walking make our towns livelier, safer and more attractive places to live, work, play, shop and invest.”

“Is a step toward

social equity, since

walking can be made

accessible to all ages,

races, incomes, and

abilities.”

“Walking is safe, simple, and doesn’t require practice, or any fancy gear.” -- U.S. S.G.

“It is hard to get people to eat healthier. But we can get them to walk. All they need are shoes.” – KP CEO

“Walking is not just about health. It’s about joyfulness and fun.” -- WalkBoston

It connects us to the places where we live, it makes us healthier, and it’s cheap. -- Oregon Walks

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Scope of the Problem:Injury and Fatality Data

2011 Pedestrian Fatalities – Where and When?United States

• In 2011, 4,432 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 69,000 were injured in the US. On average, a pedestrian was killed every two hours and injured every 8 minutes.

• Since 2002, pedestrian fatalities have increased from 11% of total traffic crashes, to 13.7% in 2011.

• Nearly 75% occurred in urban settings.• A majority, 70%, occurred during

nighttime (6 p.m.-5:59 a.m.).• Over 70% occurred at non-intersections

versus at intersections.• 88% occurred in normal weather

conditions.

Oregon• In 2011, 46 pedestrians were killed in

Oregon and another 831 were hospitalized. • In 2011, pedestrian fatalities accounted for

13.9% of all traffic crash fatalities (331), slightly higher than the 13.7% of traffic crash deaths in the US.

• More than half occur on urban roadways, and around the 6:00 p.m. hour

• Most crashes occur when pedestrians cross streets

• Behind MV Occupant deaths, pedestrians are the second category of MV deaths, followed by motorcycle, then cyclist.

• The deadliest time for pedestrians is during dark light conditions without street lights.

2011 Pedestrian Fatalities – Who? United States

• Older pedestrians (age 65+) accounted for 19% (2.04 per 100,000).

• Children age 15 and younger accounted for 6%.

• Males accounted for 70% of the fatalities, more than double the rate for females.

• Alcohol involvement, either for the driver or pedestrian, was reported in 48% of fatal crashes.– Of pedestrians involved, 35% had a

BAC of .08 or higher, compared to 13% of the drivers.

– Those aged 25-34 who were killed had the highest percentage of alcohol involvement at 50%

Oregon

• Risk factors include both driver and pedestrian use of alcohol and drugs, not yielding, being distracted, and vehicle speed.

• The largest age group for pedestrian deaths was adults aged 45-64.

• The largest age group for pedestrian hospitalizations (non-fatal) were 15-24 and 45-54.

Motor Vehicle Traffic Death Rates Per 100,000 By Category of Involvement, Oregon, 2000-2012

Cyclist and Pedestrian Injury Hospitalization Rates per 100,000, Oregon, 2000-2012

<1 1-4 5-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Oregon Motor Vehicle Related Pedestrian Deaths by Age Group (2002-2012)

Age Group (years)

Freq

uenc

y

<1 1-4 5-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Oregon Motor Vehicle Related Pedestrian Hospitalizations by Age Group (2002-2012)

Age Group (years)

Freq

uenc

y

Components of aPedestrian Safety Action Plan

Pedestrian Safety Action PlanStep 1:Involve the right stakeholders and representatives

• Include transportation agencies, health professionals, emergency providers.

• Include representatives of all incomes,ages, genders, abilities.

• Spend time getting to knoweach other’s language and concerns.

Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

Step 2:Define Objectives/Performance Targets

• Examples:– Reduce number of fatal and severe injury pedestrian crashes;– Set targets for reducing specific pedestrian crash types.

• Examples:– Increase pedestrian mode share (%) or number of walking

trips;– Increase safe access to certain destinations, for general or

targeted populations.

Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

Step 3:Collect Crash & Roadway Data to Identify PriorityLocations

• Crash data

• Presence of risk factors contributing to pedestrian crashes: roadway and vehicle data

• By spot locations, corridors, targeted areas, or for entire jurisdiction (e.g. as element of TSP)

• Pedestrian safety audit

Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

Step 4:Prioritize Locations and Select Countermeasures:

Engineering Education Enforcement

Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

Example Map of Priority Sites for Pedestrians

Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

Step 5:Develop an Implementation Strategy

• Categorize into:– quick simple fixes

– moderately complex fixes

– complex/expensive fixes

• Develop phasing strategy

• Identify funding strategies

Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

Step 6:Institutionalize Changes to Plans, Development Codes,and Design Standards• Comprehensive plan policy• Transportation system plan policy• Performance measures• Project lists• Street design and street connectivity standards• Development requirements in zoning/development code and

construction zone manual

Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

Step 7:Consider Land Use, Zoning, and Site Design Issues

• Mix and density of land uses

• Transit-oriented development

• Site design (e.g. parking lot)

• Bus stop and transit station location

• Siting considerations for:

schools hospitalsuniversities community colleges

Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

Step 8:Reinforce Commitment to Action

• Agency mission statement

• Culture of safety

• Internal and external training

• Award system for safe designs

• Support ongoing research in effectiveness of countermeasures

Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

Step 9:Evaluate Results

• Quantify and document before and after conditions;

• Keep track of and publicize successful projects/programs

• …and not so successful projects/programs

The Five Es

The Five Es• Education – Teaching about the range of transportation choices, creating

bicycling and walking safety skills, and launching driver safety campaigns.

• Encouragement – Using events and activities to promote walking and bicycling and to generate enthusiasm for active transportation.

• Engineering – Creating operational and physical improvements to infrastructure to reduce speeds and potential conflicts with motor vehicles, and to establish safe and accessible crossings, walkways, trails, bikeways.

• Enforcement – Partnering with local law enforcement to ensure that traffic laws are obeyed (e.g., speed limits, yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks, proper walking and bicycling behaviors) and initiating community enforcement such as crossing guard programs.

• Evaluation – Monitoring and documenting outcomes, attitudes and trends through the collection of data before and after the intervention(s).

Factors Influencing Pedestrian Safety

HUMAN

Education

Enlist the Community

Target Audiences: Vulnerable Populations

Typical priorities in Oregon. Check local data:

• Children/students• Older adults (65+)• Men• People walking at night/dark conditions• Urban settings• Impaired pedestrians and drivers• Drivers

Sample Messaging

Pedestrians can:

• Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road, cross at crosswalks or intersections, and obey signs and signals.

• Walk left, ride right.

• Pay attention to the traffic moving around you.

• Make eye contact with drivers as they approach.

Sample MessagingDrivers can:

• Look out for pedestrians.

• Look right before turning right.

• Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or entering a crosswalk.

• Stop at the crosswalk stop line to give drivers in other lanes an opportunity to see and yield to the pedestrians, too.

• Be cautious when backing up.

• Be predictable.

• Use turn signals (blinkers).

How to Communicate?

Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School

• www.oregonsaferoutes.org

See and Be Seen

Address Drivers

Create a Community Pledge

How to Communicate?

• Distribute program flyers and brochures to homeowner’s associations, retirement communities, senior centers, and libraries.

• Distribute project flyers and brochures as door hangers to each residence in neighborhood.

• Post on boards in local businesses.

• Ped campaigns are new! Look to and learn from:– Successful biking campaigns– Successful driver education campaigns

Sample Bike Safety Campaign

Enforcement

• Increase awareness

• Improve behavior

• Reduce traffic safety problems

Role of Enforcement

Driver Behaviors• Speeding

• Failing to yield/stop for pedestrians

• Red light running

• Passing stopped cars (multiple threat)

• Passing stopped school buses

• Driving while distracted

Pedestrian Behaviors• Disobeying signals

• Crossing at non legal locations

• The 85% concept

• Enforcement can change behavior for up to 6 weeks

• Behavior will return without additional enforcement

• Engineer/education needed for permanent changes

Effective Enforcement

Community members are part of the solution:

• Neighborhood speed watch

• Yard Sign Campaigns

• Pace Car Campaigns

• School crossing guards

Community Enforcement

• Engage community

• Educate public

• Provide officer Training

• Evaluate and Follow Up

Law Enforcement Approach

• Targeted road safety patrols actions

• Diversion programs

• Double Fines (in special zones)

• Progressive Ticketing

1) Educate2) Warn3) Ticket

Law Enforcement Tools

Speed Display SignsMobile trailerSemi-permanent

Traffic complaint hotlinePhoto enforcement

Law Enforcement Tools

Enforcement Strategies Summary

• Law enforcement officers are valuable partners who can play many roles

• Enforcement includes many strategies to improve behavior

• Enforcement works best coupled with education and engineering

• Enforcement requires the support of the community and media

Land Use & Transportation Planning

Walkability

Post WWII Development Patterns

1. Concentrate all commercial activities in auto-dominated corridors.

2. Segregate land uses.

3. Locate the school in the surrounding corn field.

4. Resulting community is auto dominated.

Result: Auto-Dominated Landscapes

The Old is New Again…

Advantages of Walkable Development

• Travel Choices

• Fewer Auto Trips

• Improved Walkability

• Easier to serve with transit

• More sustainable footprint

Connectivity creates a pedestrian-friendly street system by: Reducing walking distances; Offering more route choices, more quiet local streets; Dispersing traffic

High Connectivity Travel Lanes Required

Moderate Connectivity

Low Connectivity

Which are safer – wide streets or narrow streets?

2 Lane 3 Lane 4 Lane

Speed Matters

• Reduces drivers’ field of vision and ability to see pedestrians and bicyclists

• Reduces drivers’ ability to react and avoid a crash

• Increases crash Severity

As speed↑, driver focus on surroundings ↓

15 MPH

25 MPH

30 MPH

High speeds lead to greater chance of serious injury & death

Speed Affects Crash Severity

Can we get by without sidewalks on quiet streets?

At a certain point, sidewalks are needed

What about rural roads?

Characteristics of Good Sidewalk Design

1. Proper width2. Clear of obstacles3. Smooth surfaces4. Separation from traffic5. They lead you to the right place

Sidewalk Corridor - The Zone System

Sidewalk corridor extends from the edge of roadway to the edge of right-of-way:

Curb zone Furniture zone Pedestrian zone Frontage zone

The Zone System - Summary

PedestrianZone

FurnitureZone

The Zone System - Summary

FurnitureZone

PedestrianZone

Curb ZoneParking

Street

Sidewalk behind ditch or swale

Walkability includes the street crossings

Where do pedestrians get hit?

• Most vehicle/pedestrian collisions occur at signalized intersections.

• Of those that occur at signalized intersections, most occur while the pedestrian is in the crosswalk with the right of way.

• Most involve a turning vehicle, with approximately half of the vehicles turning left and half turning right.

Crosswalks Defined – ORS

Crosswalks Defined – T Intersection

Why are marked crosswalks provided?1. To indicate to pedestrians where to cross2. To indicate to drivers where to expect pedestrians

General Principles

1. Recognize pedestrians want & need to cross the street safely

2. Pedestrians will cross where it’s most convenient3. Drivers need to understand pedestrians’ intent4. Minimize crossing distance 5. Simplify crossing6. Speed matters

Good design makes use of these principles

Many locations are not suitable for a marked crosswalk

In many instances we must create a good place to cross the street.

Crosswalk Visibility

What the pedestrian sees

What the driver sees

Textured crosswalks:Theory – more visible. Reality?

Textured crosswalks are difficult for people who use a wheelchair, walker, cane or other mobility device, and for those who walk with some difficulty

-- unless great care is used in construction.

Minimize Crossing Distance

Florence: Hwy 101 at 8th Street

Curb Extensions

• Must have on-street parking

• Improves visibility of pedestrian

• Shortens crossing distance

• Shortens Ped Phase at signalized crossings

Hwy 101 Depoe Bay

Median Islands Reduce Ped Crashes By 40%

Bailey Hill Rd, Eugene

37th and Hwy 101, Florence

Circle Blvd, Corvallis

Hwy 42 Winston

Pedestrian Scale Street Lighting

Street Trees

Guide Signs

Street Art

Walkability and Transit

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards

U.S. ACCESS BOARDhttp://www.access-board.gov/

Two Sets of Regulations

ADAAG – ADA Accessibility Guidelineshttp://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm

PROWAG – Public Rights of Way Accessibility Guidelineshttp://www.access-board.gov/prowac/index.htm

ADA is Simple

Sidewalks require

4’ x 4’ x 7’ clear passage

Six Principles of Ramp Construction

1. Traversable Path slopes in one direction AT A TIME.2. Provide 4’ square level landing at top of ramp.3. Provide Truncated Domes at base of ramp (2’ x ramp

width).4. There should be no lip at the end of the ramp5. Max. Algebraic difference between the ramp slope

and the street or gutter slope ≤ 11.6. DON’T BLOCK THE TRAVERSIBLE PATH!

Mini-Grant Opportunity

Mini-Grant Overview• Eligible: Governmental Organizations and 501(c)(3)

e.g. police agency, public health, city planning, bike/ped advocacy group, injury prevention coalition, and others

• Purpose: Advance an existing safety plan or policy, or transportation plan or policy. Play type is flexible.

• Outcome: Local communities have taken additional step(s) to improve pedestrian safety.

• Amount: $9,000 maximum request.

• Activities: Conduct specific activities in the areas of education, enforcement and/or evaluation.– If enforcement, you must, also conduct another “E”

Examples• Conduct education (and enforcement, but not

enforcement alone) activities that support new infrastructure projects.

• Improve data collection and analysis of pedestrian crashes to identify trends, high-risk populations, and high-crash locations.

• Conduct educational campaigns focused on high-risk groups or high-crash locations.

• Evaluate a program, policy or infrastructure change intended to reduce pedestrian injuries.

Key Mini-Grant Facts

• Released: June 11, 2014• Due: July 28, 2014, 5:00 p.m.• Awarded: September 2, 2014• Completion: July 1, 2015• Evaluation: through March, 2016Application available at:http://www.safekidsoregon.org/training/2012-childhood-injury-prevention-webinars/

ResourcesNHTSA Pedestrian Resource List: bit.ly/NHTSA_resources

Safe States Alliance: http://www.safestates.org/

How to Develop a Pedestrian Safety Action Planhttp://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/ped_focus/docs/fhwasa0512.pdf

Safety Benefits of Walkways, Sidewalks, and Paved Shoulders◦ Tri-fold - http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/walkways_trifold/

◦ Brochure - http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/walkways_brochure/

Safety Benefits of Raised Medians and Pedestrian Refuge Areas◦ Tri-fold - http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/medians_trifold/

◦ Brochure - http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/walkways_brochure/

Contacts for Questions

Public health strategies:heather.gramp@state.or.us

Five Es and Transportation strategies:Sheila.a.lyons@odot.state.or.us

Mini-Grant Application Questionsshelley_oylear@co.washington.or.us