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Major urban road characteristics and injured pedestrians: A representative survey of intersections in Montréal, Quebec

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: In urban settings, pedestrian fatalities and injuries are concentrated on major roads. This study aims to describe urban intersections with major roads (arterials and collector roads) and explore the association between intersection characteristics and injured pedestrians.

METHODS: From a stratified random sampling in Montréal, Quebec, 512 intersections were selected and their characteristics collected. The number of injured pedestrians from 1999 to 2008 was obtained from ambulance services. Binomial negative regression models (including IRR: incidence rate ratios) were calculated to determine associations between intersection characteristics and injured pedestrians: i) at all intersections; ii) at intersections with multi-lane roads and iii) at signalized intersections with available vehicle and pedestrian counts.

RESULTS: Major intersections had more traffic lanes (3.8 vs. 1.7, p < 0.01) and longer pedestrian crossings (18.8 m vs. 12.7 m, p < 0.01) than minor intersections. Bus stops were also more frequent at these intersections (75% vs. 6%, p < 0.01). Overall, each additional traffic lane was associated with a 75% increase in the number of injured pedestrians (IRR = 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.41–2.18). At intersections with multi-lane roads, a fourth branch (IRR = 2.40; 95% CI = 1.53–3.77), vehicles parked within 5 m of the intersection (IRR = 2.40; 95% CI = 1.64–3.51), and marked crosswalks (IRR = 1.79; 95% CI = 1.08–2.95) significantly increased the number of injured pedestrians. Raised medians had no significant protective effect.

CONCLUSIONS: The results show that besides traffic and pedestrian volumes, intersection characteristics contribute to pedestrian injuries. The reduction of traffic lanes, parking prohibition near intersections and implementation of appropriate pedestrian refuge areas would improve pedestrian safety.

Résumé

OBJECTIFS: Décrire les intersections avec routes majeures (artère, collectrice) en milieu urbain, et explorer l’association entre les caractéristiques de ces intersections et le nombre de piétons blessés.

MÉTHODES: Les caractéristiques de 512 intersections (Montréal, Québec), sélectionnées via un échantillonnage aléatoire stratifié ont été mesurées. Le nombre de piétons blessés provient des services ambulanciers (1999–2008). L’association entre les caractéristiques des intersections et le nombre de piétons blessés (RTI: rapports de taux d’incidence) a été quantifié par des régressions binomiales négatives: 1) incluant toutes les intersections; 2) incluant les intersections de rues ayant plusieurs voies de circulation; 3) incluant les intersections pour lesquelles des comptages de véhicules et de piétons étaient disponibles.

RÉSULTATS: Les intersections majeures ont davantage de voies de circulation (3,8 c. 1,7, p < 0,01) et des traverses pour piétons plus longues (18,8 m c. 12,7 m, p < 0,01) que les intersections de rues locales. Les arrêts d’autobus y sont plus fréquents (75 % c. 6 %, p < 0,01). Globalement, chaque voie additionnelle de circulation est associée à une augmentation de 75 % du nombre de piétons blessés (RTI = 1,75; IC95% = 1,41–2,18). Aux intersections de rues ayant plusieurs voies de circulation, une quatrième branche (RTI = 2,40; IC95% = 1,53–3,77), la présence de véhicules stationnés à moins de 5 m de l’intersection (RTI = 2,40; IC95% = 1,64–3,51) et le marquage de passages pour piétons (RTI = 1,79; IC95% = 1,08–2,95) sont significativement associés à une augmentation du nombre de piétons blessés.

CONCLUSION: Les résultats démontrent qu’au-delà des volumes de trafic et de piétons, les caractéristiques des intersections avec routes majeures contribuent au plus grand nombre de blessés piétons. La réduction des voies de circulation, l’interdiction de stationner près des coins de rue et d’autres aménagements pertinents pourraient y améliorer la sécurité des piétons en milieu urbain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Patrick Morency MD, PhD & Judith Archambault MSc

  2. Direction de santé publique de Montréal, 1301 rue Sherbrooke Est, H2L 1M3, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Patrick Morency MD, PhD, Judith Archambault MSc & Céline Plante MSc

  3. Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Urbanisation Culture Société, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Marie-Soleil Cloutier PhD & Mathieu Tremblay MSc

Authors
  1. Patrick Morency MD, PhD
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  2. Judith Archambault MSc
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  3. Marie-Soleil Cloutier PhD
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  4. Mathieu Tremblay MSc
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  5. Céline Plante MSc
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Correspondence to Patrick Morency MD, PhD.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: The research was made possible by in-kind support from the Montréal Public Health Department. We express our sincere gratitude to Urgences-santé for their willing collaboration and expertise in injury data collection and validation, le Centre d’écologie urbaine de Montréal for data collection at intersections and Sylvie Gauthier who edited the English version. Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Morency, P., Archambault, J., Cloutier, MS. et al. Major urban road characteristics and injured pedestrians: A representative survey of intersections in Montréal, Quebec. Can J Public Health 106, e388–e394 (2015). https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.106.4821

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.106.4821

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