1. Walking Through the Data: Analyzing Delaware’s Pedestrian Fatalities
Presented by Delaware Office of Highway Safety
Richard Klepner
Data and Program Analyst
May 5, 2016
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

2. National Pedestrian Fatalities
19%
Since
2009
National increase in pedestrian fatalities since 2009
19% increase in pedestrian fatalities during this time period.
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

3. National Pedestrian Fatality Trends
6% increase in fatalities (in the first 6 months) of 2015
Compared to same time in 2014
26 states and Washington D.C. reported increases
10% increase (projected) in pedestrian fatalities 2015
15% of overall fatalities
39% of pedestrians had alcohol in their system when killed (2014)
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

4. Nat’l Pedestrian Fatalities Trends (cont.)
72% were in dark conditions
69% Non-intersection
Males killed in crashed – 2x that of females
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

5. Issues With the Data Data provides a good picture of
Who
What
Where
When
NOT the WHY of fatality crashes
Underlying causes may be missed
Not all actions are represented equally
Only one action can be shown in a crash report and often compete with each other
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

6. Delaware Pedestrian Fatalities
Up 140% since 2009
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

7. Overall Picture - Fatalities
Since 2012, 119 pedestrian fatalities, including 36 in 2015.
48% occur between 8 PM and 2 AM
67% killed were between the ages of 30-64
72% in New Castle County
Only 13% of fatality crashes occur at intersections
Time shift from all pedestrians crashes. (47% between 3 PM and 9 PM)
No time of the year when pedestrian crashes peak, pretty even throughout the year.
By far the largest group of pedestrians hit are aged 19 and under.
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

8. Overall Picture – Fatalities (cont.)
79% occurred in dark conditions
54% in unlit conditions
Saturday is the highest day for pedestrian crashes
Sunday the lowest
55% of pedestrian crashes occur during daylight hours.
Days of the week are similar to all crashes
Responsibility about 50/50 for reportable pedestrian crashes
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

9. Where are Fatal Crashes?
Multi-lane, high speed roadways
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

10. Pedestrian Actions Contributing
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

11. Pedestrian Under the Influence
26 pedestrians in 2015 were under the influence. (2 still pending)
Only about 11% of pedestrians that are hit overall, are under the influence
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

12. Speed Limit of Pedestrian Fatal Crashes
The risk of a fatality increases slowly until around the speed of 30 mph
Once above 30 mph the risk increases rapidly. You are 3.5 to 5.5 times more likely to be killed by a car going 40 mph than 30 mph.
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

13. Richard. Klepner@state. de
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

14. Pedestrian In A Crosswalk
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

17. Focus Areas
Rt. 13 by Dover Mall/Dover Downs
Rt. 13 through Camden
Rt. 8 through Dover
Rt. 14 in Milford

18. Focus areas:
Seaford/Laurel in previous enforcements
Georgetown for possible future efforts

19. Beach Area Pedestrian Crashes (2012-2013)

20. Summary
Delaware is not the only state seeing increases in pedestrian fatalities
Still some missing pieces within the data.
The pedestrian threats:
Not in a crosswalk
Pedestrian is under the influence
Walking/crossing high speed, multilane highways
Walking without reflective materials in dark – unlit conditions
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)

21. Sources
Delaware State Police, Annual Statistical Report
Delaware Department of Transportation; Crash Analysis Reporting System (CARS)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
Retting, Richard, Rothenberg, Heather; Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: Preliminary Data; Governors Highway Safety Association
Richards, D.C., Relationship between Speed and Risk of Fatal Injury: Pedestrians and Car Occupants. Sept and_car_occupants_richards.pdf
NHTSA, Quick Facts 2014, March
Pictures from WHYY video B-Roll provided to Summit
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (302)