U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/pedforum/
Each year pedestrian fatalities comprise about 11 percent of all traffic fatalities and there are approximately 4,600 pedestrian deaths. Another 70,000 pedestrians are injured in roadway crashes annually. Safety is important for all roadway users, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has established a goal of reducing pedestrian fatalities and injuries by 10 percent by the year 2008. Pedestrian safety improvements depend on an integrated approach that involves the 4 E’s: Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Services. The Pedestrian Forum highlights recent pedestrian safety activities related to the 4 E’s that will help reach FHWA’s safety goals and save lives.
The FHWA has released A Resident's Guide for Creating Safe and Walkable Communities, which provides examples from other communities working to improve pedestrian safety. The Guide includes information, ideas, and resources to help residents learn about issues that affect walking conditions; find ways to address or prevent these problems; and promote pedestrian safety. The Guide also contains fact sheets, worksheets, and sample materials that can be distributed or adapted to meet the needs of a community. References to other resources and materials are also provided.
Hard copies are available for order from this website: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/ped_bike_order/
For more information, contact Tamara Redmon at tamara.redmon@dot.gov.
The NHTSA Safety Countermeasures Division has recently developed a roll call video for law enforcement officers to provide an introduction to some of the common violations by both pedestrians and motorists that contribute to pedestrian crashes. Highlights include high-risk crash groups, crash types, and locations to be aware of. It discusses the important role law enforcement plays in pedestrian safety, the importance of reporting pedestrian crashes when they do occur, and activities to implement to improve pedestrian safety.
The material in the video also includes information on Safe Routes to School that can be applied to pedestrian enforcement efforts in assisting communities in improving quality of life through enhanced pedestrian and bicycle safety.
The roll call video is available on line at: mms://trinilearn.wmod.llnwd.net/a607/o1/NHTSA/PedestrianSafety.wmv
For more information on pedestrian issues, contact Leah Preiss in the Safety Countermeasures Division at 202-366-4301, or at leah.preiss@dot.gov.
Section 1807 of SAFETEA-LU funded the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) to be carried out in four specified communities: Columbia, Missouri; Marin County, California; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota; and Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. The purpose of the NTPP is "...to demonstrate the extent to which bicycling and walking can carry a significant part of the transportation load, and represent a major portion of the transportation solution, within selected communities." Each of the four communities will receive $25 million to improve their walking and bicycling networks.
As part of this project, US DOT must submit two reports to Congress. An Interim Report to Congress was submitted in January 2008. This report describes the initial stages of the projects in the communities, including describing existing facilities, current rates of walking and bicycling, and what types of projects the communities plan to undertake. A final evaluation report will be submitted to Congress in 2011 and it will describe the impact of these improved facilities on mode share, the environment, and congestion. The Interim report can be viewed here: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/ntpp/
FHWA released a Cooperative Agreement opportunity to administer an Information Center for Transportation Enhancement (TE) Activities. The Agreement awardee would administer an information center to support program delivery for the TE activities authorized in Title 23 United States Code, and to assist the agreement Recipient and to provide information about the TE activities to the public. TE activities provide funds to the States to expand travel choices, strengthen the local economy, improve the quality of life, and protect the natural and human environment. Link to Full Announcement http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/oppDTFH61-08-RA-00007-cfda20.200-instructions.pdf
If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8860
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Report 125: Guidebook for Mitigating Fixed-Route Bus-and-Pedestrian Collisions is designed to help assist small, medium, and large transit agencies and their community members in identifying preventative or remedial strategies for reducing the frequency and severity of bus-and-pedestrian collisions.
The report explores strategies to mitigate collisions, includes case studies on the implementation of mitigating strategies, and highlights important considerations associated with improving pedestrian safety around transit buses.
Dick Schaffer joined the Office of Safety Design on February 19. His duties include pedestrian and bicyclist safety, older road user issues, and human factors.
Dick has over 22 years of experience in transportation planning and pedestrian and bicyclist safety and accommodation. He holds a Bachelors degree in Geography, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration (with further study in transportation and land use planning) from the University of Colorado. He is a Licensed Certified Instructor (LCI) with the League of American Bicyclists with special training in teaching Commuting and Children. Dick is also a nationally recognized Safe Route to Schools facilitator.
Dick previously worked for Cochise County, Arizona as a Transportation Program Manager where he managed transportation evaluations of development proposals, transportation capital improvement planning, multi-modal planning, trails planning, and Safe Routes to School planning. Dick has spent the majority of his career working at the local and regional government level for Pima County, Arizona; Clark County, Nevada; Pueblo County, Colorado; and Arizona’s Saguaro National Park. In addition, Dick serves as a member of two committees of the Transportation Research Board; Bicycle Transportation, and; Transportation in Federal Lands and National Parks plus the Highway Safety Manual Task Force, Content Subcommittee.
He can be contacted at dick.schaffer@dot.gov or 202-366-2176.
Editor:
Tamara Redmon, tamara.redmon@dot.gov
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Safety
1200 New Jersey Ave SE, E71-303
Washington, DC 20590
