Factors Associated with Crashes of Urban Drivers

Abstract

This"report"focuses"on"the"nature"of"crashes"that"occur"in"urban"areas."The"report"first"discusses"the"differences"between" the"urban"and"rural"crash"pictures.""We"then"take"a"closer"look"at"a"variety"of"urban"crash"configurations,"separated"into" intersection"crashes,"non(intersection"crashes,"pedicyclist"crashes,"rear(end"crashes,"and"lane(change"crashes.""Although" fault"and"cause"are"not"identified"in"databases,"we"address"the"array"of"causes"by"identifying"violations"charged"to"drivers," rates"of"drunkenness,"and"other"factors"associated"with"each"crash"type. To"supplement"the"crash"data"analysis,"we"present"analysis"of"spatial"road"data"from"a"selection"of"U.S."cities.""The"road" data"indicate"the"kinds"of"road"conditions"that"drivers"encounter"in"typical"urban"driving.""The"combination"of"road" exposure"and"crash"risk"leads"to"the"full"picture"of"crashes"in"urban"areas.