Spatiotemporal Trends in Pedestrian Crashes: Exploring the Influence of Socioeconomic, Demographic, Infrastructure, and Emerging COVID-19 Conditions

"Spatiotemporal Trends in Pedestrian Crashes: Exploring the Influence of Socioeconomic, Demographic, Infrastructure, and Emerging COVID-19 Conditions" is a crucial study undertaken by researchers from the University of Maine (UMaine) and the University of Connecticut (UConn), in collaboration with Maine and Connecticut DOTs. This project seeks to understand the underlying factors contributing to the alarming increase in pedestrian fatalities and injuries in the United States, specifically the 7,388 pedestrian fatalities in 2021, a 13% rise from 2020. The research is particularly concerned with the disproportionate impact of pedestrian crashes on vulnerable populations, including low-income communities, people of color, and the elderly, and aims to address the equity issues arising from disparities in infrastructure. The project is aligned with the NEUTC themes of Embedding Equity and Community Engagement within Transportation Safety and Improving Safety for all Modes and Populations. It will use econometrics and machine learning tools to analyze pedestrian crashes in Maine and Connecticut, focusing on rural and geographically isolated communities, low-income individuals, and other underserved groups. The research plan is divided into several tasks, beginning with determining the appropriate scale for analysis and collecting relevant data on demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, and infrastructure variables. The project will utilize clustering algorithms and statistical models to identify patterns and contributing factors to pedestrian collisions, taking into account the effects of COVID-19 on transportation. The study's broader impact lies in filling knowledge gaps about disparities in crashes and how they evolve over time.

• Record URL:
  https://www.umass.edu/neutc/projects/spatiotemporal-trends-pedestrian-crashes-exploring-influence-socioeconomic-demographic

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $184000
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348301

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  University of Massachusetts, Amherst

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  130 Natural Resources Road
  Amherst, MA  United States  01003
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Maine, Orono

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
  5717 Corbett Hall
  Orono, ME  United States  04469-5711

  University of Connecticut, Storrs

  Connecticut Transportation Institute
  270 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202
  Storrs, CT  United States  06269-5202
• Principal Investigators:

  Shirazi, Mohammadali

  Ivan, John

• Start Date: 20240101
• Expected Completion Date: 20241231
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
• Subprogram: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged; COVID-19; Crash causes; Demographics; Equity; Low income groups; Minorities; Pedestrian safety; Pedestrian vehicle crashes; Socioeconomic factors; Underserved communities
• Geographic Terms: Connecticut; Maine
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01905230
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: New England University Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348301
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jan 22 2024 9:42AM