Background: Despite increased investment in infrastructure designed to promote and protect walking, rates of traffic related pedestrian deaths have increased by 87.8% between 2010 and 2022 in the United States. This study aims to investigate how comprehensive measures of built environmental features that encourage walking impact pedestrian risks overall and across levels of urbanicity. Methods: Using data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Walkability Index (NWI) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2017–2019 Fatality Analysis Reporting System, multilevel negative binomial regression models were used to examine the relationship between walkability score (range 1–20, with higher scores indicating the presence of built environment characteristics that increase the likelihood that people will walk for transportation) and pedestrian death rates by resident population at the census block group level. Results: In adjusted, block group level models, a 5-point higher NWI score was associated with a 29% increase in the rate of pedestrian deaths (IRR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.27 – 1.32). Models stratified by urbanicity showed a stronger association of NWI in urban block groups (IRR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.31 – 1.37) and an inverse association of NWI in isolated rural town block groups (IRR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.43 – 0.72). Conclusion: These results suggest that built environment interventions which promote walking behavior may benefit from additional pedestrian safety improvements. Current nationwide walkability data do not accurately characterize pedestrian safety; however, these data may be used to identify places to be prioritized for pedestrian safety interventions.


    Zugriff

    Download


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    Associations between National walkability Index and Traffic-Related pedestrian Deaths, United States, 2017–2019


    Beteiligte:


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2025




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Unbekannt




    Walkability Indicators for Pedestrian-Friendly Design

    Gori, Stefano / Nigro, Marialisa / Petrelli, Marco | Transportation Research Record | 2014



    PART 1 - PEDESTRIAN RESEARCH - Economic Value of Walkability

    Litman, Todd Alexander | Online Contents | 2003


    Towards a `Walkability' index

    Stonor, T. / de Arruda, M. B. / Chiaradia, A. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003


    Investigating pedestrian walkability using a multitude of Seoul data sources

    Lee, Won Do / Ectors, Wim / Bellemans, Tom et al. | Taylor & Francis Verlag | 2018