PHOTOVOICE for Pedestrian Safety: Students Saving Lives One Block at a Time Marissa A Rodriguez Jimma Njoku Shelli Stephens-Stidham Safe States Alliance Annual Meeting September 2017
What is the Pedestrian Safety Issue? In 2014: 4,884 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the U.S. - 2% increase from 2013. In 2015: City of Dallas had the 9 th highest pedestrian fatality rate from all US cities with populations larger than 500,000. - Pedestrian deaths *Dallas - Rate 4.31 per 100,000 population * US Rate 1.67 per 100,000 population Pedestrian deaths in Dallas County increased by 58% from 2013 to 2016.
Identifying Hotspots North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)
Strategies that Work??? Need More Evaluation Reflective clothing- no real evaluation Skills training- varied widely, need more rigorous evaluation Vehicle modificationspromising but needs more research
al Changes Promising Changes to make walking safer A shift the value of the pedestrian over that of motor vehicle drivers
What is PHOTOVOICE? PHOTOVOICE is a project designed to help students better understand pedestrian safety in their PHOTOVOICE uses photography to enable individuals to: Record and vivify their community s strengths and concerns Promote critical dialogue and knowledge about community issues through group discussion of photographs Reach policy makers community.
METHODOLOG Y
PHOTOVOICE Sites Kids U Eagle Scholars
Intervention Outline Session Topic 1 Intro to PHOTOVOICE 2 Photography Training 3 Photo Walk (Community Field Trip) 4 Photo Selection and Discussion / Caption-Writing Lesson 5 Social Media Lesson / Practice Presentations 6 Advocate for Change 7 Final Photo Presentation and Community Photo Walk
RESULTS Utilizing the Haddon Matrix and The 3 E s
Evaluation Methodology Haddon Matrix E s of Prevention (Education, Engineering, Enforcement) FHWA Countermeasures www.pedbikesafe.org/pedsafe/countermeasures.cfm
Haddon Matrix Pre-Event (prevention phase) Host (Pedestrian) Road crossing behavior Adult supervision Knowledge Child s age Child s gender Agent (Driver, Cars) Physical Social Vehicle speed Driver attitude Driver behavior Driver knowledge Driver experience Vehicle design Presence/ condition Pedestrian proximity to traffic Road design Signage Crosswalks Weather Time of Day Value placed on pedestrian safety Policy/ promotion of safety measures Law enforcement Community socio economic conditions
Pedestrian injury issues within Haddon s Matrix Host (Pedestrian) Agent (Driver, Cars) Physical Social Education What can we do to educate/improve Child knowledge and behavior? Drivers? Physical road conditions? To build awareness and support for valuing pedestrian safety? Enforcement What can we do about enforcement/influence of safe crossing behavior? Safe driving behavior? Traffic control installations are used as intended? Laws and policies that improve pedestrian safety? al change What can we do to change about the environment To increasing adult supervision near the road? To change road crossing behavior conditions (e.g., traffic lights)? For vehicle modifications? To change the physical environment: To slow traffic? To separate traffic and pedestrians? To improve safe crossings? To advocate for pedestrian safety?
Pedestrian Issue: Jaywalking While on Cellphone Pedestrian Car Physical Social Education Educate the community Pedestrian educational programs Enforcement Look at timing of pedestrian crossing signals. al Design road with pedestrian in mind (enough crossing locations) Road design (narrowing, traffic calming)
Pedestrian Safety Issue: Lack of Sidewalk Pedestrian Car Physical Social Education Educate the community. Educate decision makers about the risks/costs associated with unsafe environmental conditions. Enforcement al Road Design Pedestrian Design sidewalks and walkways.
Pedestrian Safety Issue: Perceived Unsafe Route Pedestrian Car Physical Social Education Enforcement Increased police enforcement within high risk areas to deter crime. al Deter loitering that deter crime (i.e. classical music at bus stop)
Pedestrian Safety Issue: Sidewalk Design Pedestrian Car Physical Social Education Educate city planning/ engineers Enforcement Police enforcement in targeted areas for reducing speeding al Design roads with pedestrians in mind.
Conclusion and Next Steps Accomplishments and quick fixes - al: Signage, trash - City council member- requested FHWA Audit of the area - Dallas County Judge - PHOTOVOICE students continue advocating The conversation continues!