Effects Influencing Pedestrian-Vehicle Crash Frequency by Severity Level: A Case Study of Seoul Metropolitan City, South Korea

Abstract

This study aimed to determine how built environments affect pedestrian-vehicle collisions. The study examined pedestrian-vehicular crashes that occurred between 2013 and 2015 in Seoul, Korea, by comparing and analyzing different effects of the built environment on pedestrian-vehicle crashes. Specifically, the study analyzed built environment attributes, land use environment, housing types, road environment, and trafic characteristics to determine how these factors affect the severity of pedestrian injury. The results of the statistical analysis appear to infer that the built environment attributes had dissimilar impacts on pedestrian collisions, depending on the injury severity. In general, both incapacitating and non-incapacitating injuries appear to be more likely to be caused by the built environment than fatal and possible injuries. These results highlight the need to consider injury severity when implementing more effective interventions and strategies for ensuring pedestrian safety. However, because of the small sample size, an expanded research project regarding this issue should be considered, as it would contribute to the development and implementation of effective policies and interventions for pedestrian safety in Korea. This study therefore offers practical information regarding the development of such an expanded study to inform future traffic safety policies in Seoul to establish a "safe walking city."