Understanding the Safe System context behind pedestrian road trauma in New Zealand

In 2016 in New Zealand, pedestrians accounted for 7.6% of road fatalities and 6.6% of serious injuries (Ministry of Transport, 2017). The aim of this research was to understand the Safe System factors associated with pedestrian deaths and serious injuries. A sample of 100 pedestrian fatality and 200 serious injury crash reports from 2013-2017 were analysed to identify the involvement of the Safe System factors in each crash case. The research identified common crash typologies and highlighted the need for improvements in speed management, environmental design, safer vehicles, safety campaigns, and infrastructure design. Addressing these Safe System causal factors could significantly reduce pedestrian deaths and serious injuries.