Present strategies to promote safety of pedestrian traffic in German towns have mainly concentrated on residential areas and central business districts. There has been hardly any change at main roads where crossing is just as dangerous for pedestrians as before. Children and older people are particularly at risk because many do not see or hear well. The main complaints are: no safe crossing place; speed of traffic; being stranded on the island in the middle of the road; drivers disregard zebra crossing rules; too little time at light controlled crossings; no help for blind or disabled people; footbridges too steep to climb; underpasses attract crime. Among pedestrians, there were 30% fatalities in rural and 70% in urban areas; 8% and 92% serious injuries, and 5% and 95% light injuries. Pedestrians are involved in accidents when a vehicle turns into a side road and when they cross the road. About 75% of pedestrian accidents occur on main roads. Although accidents which occur when pedestrians cross the road are only a small proportion of all accidents, they figure high in regard to accident cost rates. This means that more crossings must be provided on road segments, and existing zebra and light controlled crossings must be modified in the light of people's behaviour.
Abstract