Spatial Analysis Helps Identify New York City Locations with High Incidence of Pedestrian Fatalities and Severe Injury Crashes

“Since the Fall of 2008, the Rudin Center researcher Dr. Hyeon-Shic Shin, in collaboration with researchers from Baruch College, State University of New York-Buffalo, Purdue University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic University, has been conducting a pedestrian safety study sponsored by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT). The study objectives are to identify priority locations for pedestrian safety treatments, priority street and intersections types, neighborhoods and populations, and to suggest planning and policy recommendations on pedestrian safety countermeasures.

“Focusing on the five boroughs of New York City, this study uses pedestrian fatal and severe injury crashes between 2002 and 2006. It investigates causal relationships between crashes and potential contributing factors such as socioeconomic characteristics, land use, street geometry, and many others. Using Geographic Information System’s spatial analysis functions (e.g., Moran’s I, Getis-Ord Gi, Kernel Density, and Cluster Analysis), 29 high crash locations throughout the City have been identified. Further analyses using advanced statistical models identified the potential contributing factors of pedestrian-vehicle crashes. Based on findings, planning and policy suggestions have also been provided to NYCDOT. The draft final report is currently in the review and revision stage. Upon approval, the findings from this study will be available as part of an upcoming NYCDOT report.”

[Source: New York Transportation Journal]