This paper presents data on factors related to the causes and consequences of collisions between pedestrians and motor vehicles. It is based on two in-depth studies of pedestrian accidents in Adelaide, Australia, police reports of road accidents in South Australia and Coroner’s reports on fatal cases. This paper describes the characteristics of the road environment, vehicles and the pedestrians in the cases. Further observations are made regarding the injuries sustained by the pedestrians in the collisions. A regression model was developed which describes the approximate probability of sustaining a serious injury (or worse) at a given impact speed. The model shows that newer cars are more likely to cause head injury, whereas newer cars are less likely to cause serious lower extremity injury. The probability of sustaining a severe head injury in a pedestrian accident involving a car built in 1990 is one in two at 50 kilometres per hour, compared to 1 in 4 for a car built in 1980. Possible limitations of the analysis are discussed. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E211985.
Abstract