Crash Reduction Can Be Increased by Use of Sidewalks, Crosswalks and Lighting: Study

Research suggests roadway features can decrease auto accidents, which are the leading cause of death for individuals aged 5 to 29.

A new study suggests that relatively simple road safety improvements, such as adding sidewalks, crosswalks and proper lighting, could have a substantially greater impact on the number of accidents and injuries than more complex design changes, like increasing lane width and adjusting road curvature.

In a report scheduled for publication in the July 2025 issue of the Journal of Safety Research, researchers suggest that communities should prioritize these pedestrian safety features and roadside facilities, to help reduce the number of overall crashes.

Despite ongoing prevention efforts, auto accidents remain a persistent global issue. Recent data suggests that car accidents are the leading cause of death for individuals aged 5 to 29, and the 12th leading cause across all age groups, resulting in more than 1.19 million fatalities and millions of injuries each year.

In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set a goal to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030.

In the new study, researchers from Incheon National University in South Korea, examined crash risks along a 68-km stretch of highway in their country. They categorized road attributes as PC1 for pedestrian and roadside facilities, which included sidewalks, crosswalks and pedestrian lighting, PC2 for vehicle intersections, and PC3 for curved road conditions.

Using complex forms of analysis and modeling, the researchers, led by Wookjae Yang, evaluated the direct effects of these various road attributes on crashes, as well as their indirect effects through traffic behavior influences.

Findings revealed that PC1 attributes had the most substantial effect on crash outcomes, including sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting. By contrast, PC2 and PC3 attributes, which relate more to the road’s actual design, did not show significant effects on crash frequency.

In addition, inadequate pedestrian and roadside facilities were also associated with higher vehicle speeds, indirectly increasing the likelihood of all crash types, suggesting that elements like sidewalks, street lighting and pedestrian crossings are more effective at reducing crashes than the physical layout and dimensions of the roadway.

The team concluded that road safety strategies should take priority over operational features, which can be adjusted post-construction to improve safety.

Addressing Pedestrian Safety

Following an increase in pedestrian traffic deaths in recent years, organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have conducted multiple studies aimed at reversing the trend.

A study published last year found that streetlights and other lighting features at crosswalks significantly improve nighttime pedestrian safety. It also showed that when pedestrians activated illuminated crosswalk signals, vehicle speeds decreased substantially and drivers were more likely to yield.

However, another IIHS study found that pedestrians are less likely to activate the most effective types of crosswalk beacons, suggesting that measures like reducing wait times, adding pedestrian medians, and building sidewalks could encourage greater use of these signals.