Drivers' trip purpose and pre-crash maneuvers as determinants of pedestrian injury severity: Insights and policy recommendations

Pedestrian safety is a critical component of sustainable urban mobility. Despite the known societal and health benefits of walking, pedestrians remain one of the most vulnerable groups on the road, often suffering severe injuries in crashes due to their lack of physical protection. To address this issue, policies encouraging walking must go hand in hand with measures that enhance safety. This study investigates the risk factors affecting pedestrian crash severity on urban roads in the United Kingdom, with a focus on the underexplored role of drivers' trip purposes and crash preceding maneuvers.

Using a temporal analysis, the study reveals that drivers' trip purposes, particularly ‘commuting trips' and ‘work-related journeys’, are significantly associated with serious pedestrian injuries. The analysis further explores crash preceding actions, finding that vehicle maneuvers such as reversing, turning, and stopping/starting, as well as pedestrian movements such as crossing from the driver's offside or walking along roadways, significantly impact injury outcomes. While minor injuries are more likely during vehicle turning, reversing, and pedestrian road-walking, fatal injuries are strongly associated with maneuvers like pedestrian crossings that involve higher risk.

These findings provide essential insights into pedestrian crash dynamics and can inform more targeted safety measures. Policy recommendations include developing tailored traffic management strategies, such as limiting certain high-risk maneuvers in pedestrian-dense areas, lowering speed limits in urban areas, and adopting advanced vehicle safety technologies. Additionally, creating awareness campaigns that emphasize the dangers posed by specific driver behaviors during work-related or commuting trips could help mitigate risks. Enhancing driver training for taxi, truck, and bus operators, particularly in urban areas, and implementing workplace safety programs targeting driver fatigue could improve road safety. Finally, public awareness campaigns emphasizing both pedestrian visibility and safe crossing behaviors are crucial for reducing pedestrian vulnerability. Integrating these insights into broader urban transport planning and adopting stricter pedestrian safety regulations would support more effective interventions aimed at reducing pedestrian injury severity and enhancing road safety in urban environments.