Fatal pedestrian and pedal-cyclist crashes have been on the rise in the
U.S. since 2009. This rise in fatalities coincides with the rise of
large vehicles on American roadways, continuing a trend that began years
earlier. Through rare access to both crash and hospital records, this
report investigates the relationship between striking vehicle type and
medical outcomes of pedestrian and pedalcyclist cases. Results suggest
that children are eight times more likely to die when struck by a SUV
compared to those struck by a passenger car. Passenger cars were the
striking vehicle in most fatal pedestrian and pedal-cyclist crashes,
though they were underrepresented relative to the proportion of all
crashes in which they were involved. Though pickup trucks were the
striking vehicle in just 5.6% of pedestrian and pedal-cyclist crashes,
they were involved in 12.6% of fatalities. SUVs were similarly
overrepresented in fatalities relative to the proportion of their
involvement in all crashes.
SUVs struck 14.7% of the pedestrians and
pedal-cyclists investigated here, but were involved in 25.4% of the
fatalities. Head and thorax injury severities are examined by vehicle
type and age. Hospital charges of pedestrian and pedal-cycle crash
victims are also analyzed by striking vehicle type and victim age.
Findings suggest larger vehicles are involved in pedestrian and
pedal-cyclist crashes with more severe injuries that result in higher
hospital charges. Blacks are also found to be overrepresented as
pedestrian and pedal-cyclist crash victims.
- Tags
-
