Factors associated with hit-and-run pedestrian fatalities and driver identification

Abstract

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Because hit-and-run crashes account for a significant share of pedestrian fatalities, a better understanding of these crashes will assist efforts to reduce pedestrian fatalities. Of the more than 48,000 pedestrian deaths that were recorded in the United States between 1998 and 2007 (Fatality Accident Reporting System [FARS]), 18.1% of them were the victims of hit-and-run crashes, and the percentage of fatal pedestrian hit-and-runs has been rising as the number of all pedestrian fatalities has decreased. Using FARS data on single pedestrian fatal victim crashes between 1998-2007, logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors related to hitand-run and to identify factors related to the identification of the hit-and-run driver. Results indicate an increased risk of hit-and-run in the early morning, during non-daylight, and on the weekend. Results also indicate that certain driver demographic characteristics (young, male), behavior (notably alcohol use), and history (e.g., suspended license or history of DWI/DUI convictions) are associated with hit-and-run. There also appears to be an association between the type of victim and the likelihood of the driver being identified. Alcohol use and early morning, the time frame when persons may be leaving bars, were among the leading factors that increased the risk of hit-and-run. Reducing alcohol-related crashes could substantially reduce pedestrian fatalities as a result of hit-and-run. Driver characteristics will assist in the development of countermeasures, however, more information about this population may be necessary.TRB 2010 Annual Meeting CD-ROM Paper revised from original submittal.

Urban crash-related child pedestrian injury incidence and characteristics associated with injury severity

“…Further, the analysis found younger children were more likely to be hit midblock during daylight and an increase during summer months but that road and weather conditions had no significant affect (DiMaggio and Durkin, 2002). Other studies suggest increased injury rates in males, less fatal injury in children, increased severity in mid-block crashes, and that about 18% of all pedestrian crashes are hit-and-run (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2013; Stimpson et al, 2013;Slaughter et al, 2014;MacLeod et al, 2012;Rothman et al, 2012). However, as suggested by Ulfarsson et al, there is much variability in the literature making it unclear if these findings are generalizable to other geographic locations for use in targeted injury prevention initiatives (Ulfarsson et al, 2010).…”

Providing driver’s licenses to unauthorized immigrants in California improves traffic safety

“…However, despite the importance of the issue, we know very little about how these policies affect traffic safety or social and economic outcomes. Although studies have found that unlicensed drivers in general are more likely to be involved in accidents (20)(21)(22) and hit and run accidents (14,23,24), these studies do not examine the impact of policies that extend driver's license access to unauthorized immigrants. Unauthorized immigrants differ from other drivers without a valid license in that they face a risk of deportation and, therefore, might be more likely to leave the scene of an accident to avoid contact with the police.…”

Understanding and preventing hit-and-run driving: a crime script analysis

“…2014found that in Ghana younger drivers (aged 25-44) and less experienced drivers were more likely to flee a collision, though others studies have suggested middle aged drivers (45-69) are more likely to flee (Tay et al, 2008;2010). Drivers are less likely to leave the scene if a victim is either very young or old (MacLeod et al, 2012) and drivers most likely to be identified when victims are young (MacLeod et al, 2012). Alcohol consumption is a common contributory factor in both collisions involving pedestrians (MacLeod et al, 2012) and damage-only cases (Jiang et al, 2016).…”