a technical guide for conducting pedestrian safety assessments

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY • INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORTATION STUDIES • TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAM
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1. INTRODUCTION
Each year in California, over 4,000 motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists die as the result of traffic collisions. Pedestrian
fatalities represent about 17% of total traffic fatalities in California, significantly exceeding the national average
of 11%. During the last 10 years, California has averaged over 730 pedestrian fatalities per year. Pedestrian safety has
been a significant challenge to many California cities/communities, and therefore improved pedestrian safety has
been among top priorities for these cities. Pedestrian Safety Assessments (PSA) are one approach to improving
pedestrian safety within California communities, as a PSA enables cities to systematically identify pedestrian safety
issues/problems and effective remedial options. Improved pedestrian safety and improved pedestrian infrastructure in
turn can lead to enhanced walkability and economic vitality of communities.
With funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
the Institute of Transportation Studies Technology Transfer Program (Tech Transfer), University of California Berkeley,
will be offering Pedestrian Safety Assessments as a free statewide service to California cities/communities upon request
starting in 2008.
For brevity, this program will be referred to as the “California PSA” in this report.
This report presents a technical guide developed specifically for use in conducting Pedestrian Safety Assessments for
California cities.
1.1 OBJECTIVE OF THE CALIFORNIA PSA
The objective of the California PSA is to enable California communities to:
➜ Improve pedestrian safety at specific locations and citywide
➜ Create safe, comfortable, accessible, and welcoming environments for pedestrians
➜ Enhance walkability, livability, and economic vitality