Assessing the Impact of Safety Asset Improvements on Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety in California

Abstract: Assessing the Impact of Safety Asset Improvements on Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety in California: The Safe System Approach to Reduce Fatalities and Serious Injuries

Bicyclists and pedestrians face greater vulnerability on the road compared to vehicle occupants due to the lack of protective features like seat belts and airbags. In 2021, California saw a 9.3% increase in pedestrian fatalities, reaching 1,108, while bicyclist fatalities decreased by 8% to 125. Bicyclists and pedestrians safety are two of the six areas that have been identified as high priorities in California because they represent the greatest opportunity to reduce fatalities and serious injuries across the state. In response, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is implementing both proactive and reactive safety measures. These include educational programs targeting high-risk groups, as well as infrastructure enhancements at intersections, such as the installation of signage, green pavement markings, ladder crosswalks, and updated crosswalk markings.
This study aims to identify high-collision locations and corridors through data-driven safety analysis, with the long-term objective of reducing fatalities and serious injuries on the State Highway System. Four sites within Caltrans District 3 have been selected under the Bicyclist/Pedestrian Safety Improvement Monitoring Program, part of the California Strategic Highway Safety Plan. Based on historic data, including Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT), Caltrans has proposed improvements at these locations to potentially reduce pedestrian and bicycle collisions and enhance overall road safety.

Keyword: Bicyclist Safety, Pedestrian Safety, Collision Reduction, Transportation Safety