PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS ON RURAL HIGHWAYS

Pedestrian accident experience in two New Mexico counties is far in excess of statistically expected levels. These accidents, which occur principally on rural roads, result in a fatality more than 60 percent of the time. This research was undertaken to determine if engineering improvements could reduce the frequency of these accidents. Field studies were conducted at 95 rural pedestrian accident sites in these two counties. It was found that roadway geometrics at these locations were good and that sight distance exceeded standard requirements. Fixed objects, parked vehicles, and other features that might conceal a pedestrian along the roadside were noticeably absent. At the same time, pedestrian safety devices and amenities were employed infrequently at the accident sites. Most locations had adequate right-of-way width to accommodate separate sidewalks or paths for pedestrians. Although more than 80 percent of the accidents occurred at night, roadway lighting is a viable improvement at only a limited number of the rural locations. Two cluster areas of pedestrian accidents may warrant the most immediate attention. The inability of engineering features or deficiencies to explain a significant amount of the variation in the characteristics associated with these pedestrian accidents suggests that other, nonengineering factors may play a more important role in their occurrence.