Abstract:
This study analyses the pedestrian and cycle crashes using CAS data from the year 2000 to August of 2015. The aim of this study was to compare street network characteristics of pedestrian and cycle crashes for the elderly and children demographic in lower and higher socio-economic suburbs in urban areas of Auckland. The CAS data was loaded and plotted onto GIS ArcMap which showed clusters of crashes for elderly and children demographics on certain street network designs and in different socio-economic areas. The results showed that children and elderly demographic groups were predominantly being injured near on minor urban roads (local roads) that were unmarked and had no traffic controls. It was also found that lower socio-economic suburbs experience more crashes closer to major arterial roads and state highways. The children group were predominantly injured on T-junction types of streets and the elderly demographic was injured on T-junctions and crossroads. It was found that both vulnerable groups of crashes that roads with a single centre line was problematic as most crashes occurred near these types of road markings. The severity of injuries sustained for both groups showed that elderly people were more likely to suffer severe or fatal injuries compared to children and the remaining adult crashes in the CAS database. The study suggests that there is an inadequacy in the road infrastructure to cater to vulnerable groups.
