The relative safety of one-way streets as compared to two-way streets was studied by comparing accident rates for the two types of streets in one city during the same time period (a cross-sectional design). The study population consisted of all single-carriageway streets in Jerusalem and all injury accidents that occurred on these streets during a 3-year period, 1983 through 1985. Streets were grouped according to class - arterial, collector, or local - and location - in the central business district (CBD) and elsewhere. Accident rates by type of accident - pedestrian and other (vehicle) - were compared within each group of streets. Rates were calculated separately for midblock sections and for intersections. The study concentrated on collector and local streets. In general, one-way streets do not contribute to an improvement in safety relative to two-way streets.
Abstract