CHARACTERISTICS AND VIRGINIA" ACCIDENT SAFETY PEDESTRIAN IN VIRGINIA'S PEDESTRIAN LAWS SUGGESTED REVISIONS TO by Eilenberger R. Dawn Assistant Legal Graduate opinions, this findings, in expressed (The conclusions and necessarily of those and of author the those report not are agencies.) sponsoring the Transportation Highway Virginia Report Prepared by and the Sponsorship Council of the Under Research the Transportation Safety Department of V__{•gin{__• H'•hway Transnorrarion• Research & r"' 0 C U.• 0rgan'zation Jointly Cooperative (A Sponsored by Transportation Highways Department and of & Virginia) University of the Virg'nia Charlottesville, April 1981 VHTRC 81-R44 ADVISOR? COMMITTEE SAFETY RESEARCH Director., irman, Deputy DUVAL, C ha MR. R. W. Transportation Virginia Safety Department of Administrator, Regional ALTOBELLI, MR. FRANK D. Highway Administration Safety Traffic National 0fficer, Planning BOLDIN, MAJOR M. C. Virginia Police Department of State Administrator, BURGESS, MR. VASAP V. M. Transpo•ation.• Virginia Safety of Department Director, Systems Information CAMPBELL, Management MR. E. R. Transportation Office Secretary of of Director, Programs DOUGLAS, MR. WALTER E. Transportation Virginia Safety Department of FAHY, Assistant General, Attorney MR. R. W. Vehicles Division of Motor Div{sion of Manager, HEITZLER, JR., Pr P. C. MR. ogram Analysis Development Systems and Ma nagemenr Education, Supervisor, JOHNSON, Driver G. B. MR. Education of Department State Computer Department Director, of JOHNSON, HIRAM MR. R. Services Engineer, Traffic MCALLISTER, MR. DAVID 0. Transportation Safety Virginia of Department •nator, Safety Program MCCARTY, F. Coord MR. R. Highway Administration Federal Engineer, District Assistant MCCORMICK, F. MR. W. Transportation Highways Virginia of Department and Training Highway Center, Project Director, Safety MR. MCDONALD R. M. #•e•y Public_ Administration Justice Sa of and Director, MCHENRY, MS. SUSAN D. Medical Services Emergency of Bureau Scientist, STOKE, C. Research MR. B. Council Transportation Virginia Highway Research and Eng'neer, Safety Trafeic Assistant THOMAS, and L. MR. A. Virginia ghways Transportat Department of and H on Administrator, Driver Services JR., WH!TE, MR. G. L. Division Vehicles of Motor ii CONTENTS OF TABLE OF TABLES LIST vii ABSTRACT ix FINDINGS SUMMARY OF xi CONCLUSIONS xii" i C OMMENDAT RE S N 0 I INTRODUCTION ! SCOPE PURPOSE AND 2 METHOD 2 Review Literature Task ! Analysis 2 Accident Task 2 Data Regulations Analysis Traffic Pedestrian of Task 3 Revisions Code Recommendations for and to Virginia 2 of 3 LITERATURE REVIEW 3 Accident Data Severity Injury 3 3 ime T Conditions 3 Environmental 4 Location 4 Age Actions Pedestrian 4 5 involvement Alcohol 5 ions Dr'ver Act 5 Accident Types Legislative Countermeasures ANALYS IS ACCIDENT DATA VIRGINIA Magnitude of the Problem (continued) TABLE CONTENTS OF Environmental Factors 9 Pedestrian Factors ii Age 12 Pedestrian Defects 12 Pedestrian Actions 14 Driver Factors 17 Vehicle Factors 19 S 2O y ar un•m ANALYSIS OF THE CODE VIRGINIA OF 21 Crossing Locaricns Crcsswalks Other Than at 22 Right-of-Way Pedes-:rians' in Crosswalks 24 Pedestrian 0bed•ence_ 0fr4cial_ •ra•=•ic Control •o Devices 28 Highways Pedestrians 3O on Soliciting Pedestrians Rides Business 32 or Intoxicated, Handicapped, Highly and Other Vulnerable Pedestrian Groups 33 Right-of-Way Pedestrians' Sidewalks 36 on Yielding Pedestrians Emergency ehicies U 36 to Bridge Signals Rai!road and 37 PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN LAWS 37 CONCLUSION 45 REFERENCES 47 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY •9 APPEND SuURCES OF ACCIDE},[ '•X S'-C=_O DATA A FOR m REVIEW LITERATURE A-i APPENDIX VIRGINIA ACCIDEN B- DATA •' APPENDIX C-- VEHICLE CODE UNIFORM PROVISIONS APPENDIX CODE PROVISIONS OF VIRGINIA D iv TABLES OF LIST Page Pedestrian Severity Injury Table I Accidents Pedestrian Traffic of Percentage 2 Table Conditions i0 by Weather Injured/Killed Pedestrians of Percentage Table 3 Light Conditions i0 1979 by Accidents by Pedestrian Road of Percentage Table Alignment i0 injured/Killed by Pedestrians Percentage of 5 Table Locality ii 1979 injured/Killed by Pedestrians of Percentage Table 6 Location- Ii Urban/Rural 1979 injured/Killed Pedestrians by of Percentage 7 Table 12 Age 1979 Injured/Killed Pedestrians by of Percentage 8 Table 13 Defects 1979 Injured/Killed by Pedestrians of Percentage Table 9 13 !979 Involvement Alcohol Injured/Killed Pedestrians by of Percentage Table !0 Pedestrian Action 14 !979 Injured/Killed by Pedestrians of Percentage Ii- Table Location/Pedestrian Act{on Rural/Urban 16 1979 in Drivers Licensed Involved of Percentage i2-- Table 17 Accidents !979 Age by Pedestrian injured/Killed by Pedestrians of Percentage 13 Table 18 Action iver E,r Injured/Killed by Pedestrians of Percentage Table !4-- 19 Vehic!e i979 Maneuver Injured/Killed by Pedestrians of Percentage Table 19 Type Vehicle 1979 ABSTRACT purpose:.of The reported the research here evaluate to was characteristics, involving severity accidents the and of nature, pedestrians Virginia in determine and whether these to not or Virginia in changes data for would traffic the need suggest laws affecting pedestrians. pedestrian analysis acci- of An data on Virginia in dents situations of revealed number that pose a a significant pedestrians. risk accident of review Vir- of A to ginia's pedestrian dealing with traffic situations dangerous laws revisions showed that of number for called reduce to a are pedestrian traffic risks. Comparisons Virginia Uniform Code, Vehicle the between the pedestrian •ode, and revealed other number statutes states from a Virginia of with which with which Code the does deal not areas or inadequate it in deals Recommendations unclear for or an manner. Virginia changes in existing revising formulated the Code by were Virginia regulations Uniform closely conform the Ve- to to more hicle Code proposed of and the for other The need statutes states. Virginia revisions considered in of the Code the to terms was identified pedestrians Virginia. risks traffic in face vii SUMMARY FINDINGS OF following findings The analysis through made of were an pedestrian Virginia. data accidents in on highway crossing Pedestrians rl. the for accounted Virginia's pedestrian cl'ose one-half of to injuries fatalities, crossing with and at locations representing intersections other than majority crossing accidents. of the a Crossing non-signalized intersections at accounted Virginia's for pedestrian injuries one-half of and fatalities intersect'ons. at signalized intersections, against crossing At the signal times sing fatalities caused three than more cro s signal. with the Walking in roadway the the second most was common action involved pedestri•n in Virginia, accidents in while activities roadway other represented also a significant portion pedestrian injuries of and fatalities. Walking in with roadway traffic the involved injuries in twice fata•ities• and was many as walking against traffic. as Children high elderly and the for accounted per- a pedestrian injuries of fatalities centage in and Virginia. incapacitated, Elderly, intoxicated and pedestrians in fatalities overrepresented in were relation their involvement pedestrian in total to incidents. ix CONCLUSIONS following evaluation conclusions of The based upon are an pedestrian regulations accident traffic data. and pedestrians protection Increased for i. .be may Virginia attained revisions through the to pedestrian is hostile section Code. The to pedestrians in vehicular that movement seems pedestrian important safety. than be to more high- crossing pedestrians provisions the 2. Code on safety they insufficient because measures way are as pedestrians fail behavior indicate for correct to crossing intersections. outside of and crosswalks pedestrian provisions of Code ade- the 3. do The not signalized intersections maximize safety quately at required pedestrians traffic obey because not to are signals signals pedestrian safe and to responses are indicated. not limit undefined language the and Unclear 4. terms provisions dealing Virginia safety Code effect of pedestrian solicitation with roadway, of the use right-of-way in vehicle from marked and occupants, non-signalized inter- crosswalks unmarked and at sections. provisions intoxicated safety effects of Code 5. The on right-of-way pedestrians limited sidewalks and are on pedestrian provisions in because the the not are article in elsewhere the Code. but pedestrian Virginia's article of 6. The value as a include failure safety by lessened •h to ms •.e measure provisions requiring drivers exercise and due to care pedestrian indicating railroad to correct response bridge signals vehicles. and and emergency Legislative provisions insufficient 7. alone are pedestrian safety with problem. deal the xi RECOMMENDATIONS based analysis recommendations of The below upon an are pedestrian pedestrian in in risks traffic relation laws to Virginia. Virginia's modified illustrative of laws An text as this is presented of recommended the end report. at. rights provision delineating duties of i. and the A pedestrians crossing places than other at cross- intersections the should added walks be to or Virginia Code. provision requiring exercise drivers 2. due A to care precautions special pedestrians avoid and take to incapacitated children, elderly, when and the near pedestrians in included Code. should be the required traffic Pedestrians obey by 3. should be law to signals, provision specifically addressed and to a pedestrian pedestrians