BACKGROUND: According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FDSMV), pedestrian traffic accident fatalities in Miami-Dade County has steadily increased in recent years. During 2015, there were 93 fatal pedestrian traffic accidents in Miami-Dade County, representing an increase of 27% since 2011. Although pedestrian crashes represent a small percentage of crashes in Miami-Dade, they often result in serious injury or death to the individual. This study discusses risk factors of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes during 2011 – 2015 in Miami-Dade County.
METHODS: Data was retrieved from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a national database containing all fatal traffic crashes within the U.S. and its territories. All fatal pedestrian traffic accidents occurring in Miami-Dade County during 2011 - 2015 were included for analysis. Factors associated with pedestrian fatalities were extracted using SAS (version 9.4). Variables analyzed included pedestrian demographics (age, gender, race/ethnicity), time of day, traffic crash location, and alcohol use.
RESULTS: There were 370 pedestrians killed as a result of traffic crashes in Miami-Dade County during the five-year period, with the greatest number occurring in 2015. Fatality rates among males (3.8/100,000 population) were slightly more twice that for females (1.84/100,000). Pedestrians aged 55 and older were more than three times at risk of being killed as a result of a traffic crash (5.60/100,000) compared to all other age groups (1.80/100,000). Pedestrian fatality rates among racial/ethnic groups (White Non-Hispanic, African American, and Hispanics) were similar. Overall, nearly three-fourths of pedestrians (72%) were not located within a marked crosswalk at the time of the crash with the majority occurring at non-intersections. Most crashes (66%) occurred at night with a small percentage (6%) taking place at either dawn or dusk. Seventeen pedestrians (5%) had blood alcohol concentrations (BAC’s) of .08% or above which is the standard measurement used across the United States for "impaired" persons.
CONCLUSIONS: Older and male pedestrians were at greater risk of being killed as a result of traffic crashes. In addition, other risk factors included crossing non-intersections without marked crosswalks and high BAC levels among pedestrians. Pedestrian traffic accidents can be reduced by carrying a flashlight or wearing reflective clothing while walking at night, improving visibility for pedestrians and drivers, adding refuge islands, improved street lighting, avoiding alcohol consumption prior to walking outdoors, and crossing streets at designated crosswalks or intersections.