How to design and implement a drinking and driving programme pdf ...

Module 3: How to design and implement a drinking and driving programme
Pedestrian fencing
Pedestrian fencing may be useful for improving the safety of alcohol-impaired pedestrians,
as it requires no decision-making by the pedestrian. It may be particularly
appropriate at locations where such pedestrians are likely to spill out onto the road or
cross the road at an inappropriate point, for example, outside licensed premises.
Refuge islands and medians
Refuge islands and medians can assist alcohol-impaired pedestrians in crossing the
road by allowing a staged crossing and simplifying the decision-making task. Kerb
extensions can also improve the safety of alcohol-impaired pedestrians by reducing
the crossing distance and the area in which the pedestrian is at risk. While such treatments
usually attract pedestrians to cross where they are located, alcohol-impaired
pedestrians are probably less likely to detour from their desired line of walking to
use the facilities. The effectiveness of refuge islands and kerb extensions for alcohol-impaired
pedestrians may therefore depend on their being located where such
pedestrians would be likely to cross anyway.
Lighting
Since most crashes involving alcohol-impaired pedestrians occur at night, improved
street lighting is likely to have a major impact on this type of event. Improved
lighting has obvious implications for the safety of alcohol-impaired pedestrians by
increasing their visibility to motorists. It also has less obvious implications in terms of
attracting intoxicated pedestrians to designated crossing places, and lessening the risk
of trips or falls. Although relatively costly, lighting can, in some circumstances, be
paid for by the private sector and brings with it a number of social benefits.
Street lighting project, Whiteriver, Arizona, United States
One street lighting project aimed to reduce pedestrian injuries – especially
alcohol-related ones – in a Native American jurisdiction in Arizona (23). In the five
years prior to the additional street lighting, 15 pedestrian crashes had occurred
along the 1.8 km target section of highway. In the five years after their installation
only three crashes occurred.
Cost-benefit analysis revealed that the installation of the 28 street lights along
the length of highway was followed by an average reduction of 2.5 pedestrian
crashes per year, and a benefit-cost ratio of 10.
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