Geo-spatial and log-linear analysis of pedestrian and bicyclist crashes involving school-aged children.
OBJECTIVE
There is a growing concern with the safety of school-aged children. This study identifies the locations of pedestrian/bicyclist crashes involving school-aged children and examines the conditions when these crashes are more likely to occur.


METHODS
The 5-year records of crashes in Orange County, Florida where school-aged children were involved were used. The spatial distribution of these crashes was investigated using the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the likelihoods of crash occurrence under different conditions were estimated using log-linear models.


RESULTS
A majority of school-aged children crashes occurred in the areas near schools. Although elementary school children were generally very involved, middle and high school children were more involved in crashes, particularly on high-speed multi-lane roadways. Driver's age, gender, and alcohol use, pedestrian's/bicyclist's age, number of lanes, median type, speed limits, and speed ratio were also found to be correlated with the frequency of crashes.


CONCLUSIONS
The result confirms that school-aged children are exposed to high crash risk near schools. High crash involvement of middle and high school children reflects that middle and high schools tend to be located near multi-lane high-speed roads.


CONCLUSIONS
The pedestrian's/bicyclist's demographic factors and geometric characteristics of the roads adjacent to schools associated with school children's crash involvement are of interest to school districts.
Abdel-Aty
Mohamed
M
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816-2450, USA.
Chundi
Sai Srinivas
SS
Lee
Chris
C
D000054:Acceleration; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries*; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003710:Demography; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012574:Schools; D016138:Walking / Q000293:injuries*