New Study Shows Pedestrian Safety Improvements Make a Difference

Jan. 16, 2013

A new study shows that the use of warning systems and other traffic control technologies around schools in New York is effective in reducing the number of Pedestrian Accidents in those areas. An article published by Reuters Health discussed the study in detail and what its results mean.

Researchers at Columbia University conducted the study by examining injury rates in the vicinity of 30 different schools in New York City that had completed pedestrian safety projects before 2009. In areas where the projects had been implemented, injury rates were slashed by as much as 44 percent over a ten year period from 2001 to 2010. In areas where pedestrian safety projects were not completed, the rate of injuries remained fairly constant, hovering around 3.1 annual injuries per 100,000 students.

Experts noted that working on further pedestrian safety projects, including the installation of speed bumps, pedestrian signals, and traffic lights, could help prevent as many as 210 pedestrian accidents involving students each year.

The study has resulted in more funding for the projects in New York, and played a large part in the state receiving a $31 million federal grant to fund the “Safe Routes for Schools” campaign.

The Buffalo Car Accident Lawyers with the William Mattar Law Offices are hopeful the study will benefit efforts to improve pedestrian safety across the state of New York.