Pedestrians are vulnerable road users and suffer the most severe consequences in collisions with other road users, because they are unprotected against the speed and mass of the crash opponent. Collisions in which pedestrians cause injury to others are very rare.
About 15 - 25% of all journeys are undertaken on foot. Some groups walk more than others, which is also reflected in their involvement in crashes. Age groups for which walking is particularly common are children and seniors.
Half of all pedestrian fatalities in Europe are aged 65 or over. In particular, from 70 years on, the number of pedestrian fatalities increases significantly.
Pedestrians comprise around 20% of all road deaths in the EU, a proportion that has remained stable over the last decade. The proportion of fatalities who are pedestrians is much higher for females compared to males. The number of pedestrians killed declined by around 20% between 2010 and 2018.
Most pedestrian injuries occur in urban areas and indeed pedestrians account for 38% of all road deaths in such areas. Cars account for over 70% of vehicles hitting pedestrians. Most crashes involving pedestrians occur while crossing the road and frequently at pedestrian crossings which are usually the location at which roads are most often crossed. This indicates that more care is needed when designing these crossings.
The factors identified as contributing to pedestrian crashes are: the road environment; lack or design of crossing facilities; speed of motorised vehicles; their weight and design; the unprotectedness of pedestrians; their (lack of) visibility; and finally the attitudes and behaviours (including intoxication) of all road users.
Countermeasures
- Land-use planning assigning space for pedestrians and physically separating them from motor traffic.
- Good speed management and a default speed limit of 30 km/h in urban areas, since high speed is the most important causal and aggravating factor in pedestrian crashes.
- Implementing safe walking routes, area-wide traffic calming, and improved crossing facilities.
- Street lighting and the promotion of reflective devices for pedestrians to improve their visibility.
- Vehicle design of crash opponents, with a pedestrian-friendly car front and and intelligent speed adaption to enforce low speeds. The new EU Regulation on type approval requirements for motor vehicles makes pedestrian detection linked to automatic emergency breaking mandatory for cars and vans. Moreover side and front detection of vulnerable road users and improved viewing conditions for the driver become mandatory for trucks and buses.
- Education and training for motorists as well as ample opportunities for children to safely practice their pedestrian skills.
- Legal framework and enforcement, to ensure safe behaviour by motorists and pedestrians.
