Urban sprawl as a risk factor in motor vehicle occupant and pedestrian fatalities.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the association between urban sprawl and traffic fatalities.


METHODS
We created a sprawl index by applying principal components analysis to data for 448 US counties in the largest 101 metropolitan areas. Regression analysis was used to determine associations between the index and traffic fatalities.


RESULTS
For every 1% increase in the index (i.e., more compact, less sprawl), all-mode traffic fatality rates fell by 1.49% (P <.001) and pedestrian fatality rates fell by 1.47% to 3.56%, after adjustment for pedestrian exposure (P <.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Urban sprawl was directly related to traffic fatalities and pedestrian fatalities. Subsequent studies should investigate relationships at a finer geographic scale and should strive to improve on the measure of exposure used to adjust pedestrian fatality rates.
Ewing
Reid
R
Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University, 33 Livingston Avenue, Room 363, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1900, USA.
Schieber
Richard A
RA
Zegeer
Charles V
CV
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D002958:City Planning; D004779:Environment Design; D006801:Humans; D011158:Population Growth; D011634:Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012106:Research; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016138:Walking / Q000293:injuries*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality