RISK FACTORS THAT INCREASE PEDESTRIAN ROAD CROSSING CRUSH RISK: A CASE STUDY IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

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Author/s

KIBRET GEBREMEDHIN HAGOS, WONDESSEN GIRMA MAMO, YOHANNES LEGESSE DADI, HILINA DEMEKE SEIFU

Abstract

Pedestrians represent the major at-risk groups of road traffic crushes in cities of the global south (WHO 2018). Crossing multi-lane roads is also the most challenging risk factor in Addis Ababa (A.A), Ethiopia (Hirpa 2017). The main objective of this paper was to identify the most frequent mistakes and violations of road crossing behavior among young adult pedestrians (Age 18-34 years) in the city. Study areas were first identified based on three years of crush statistics. A pedestrian behavior questionnaire (PBQ) was then completed by 292 pedestrians. A descriptive statistic was used to identify the most common risk factors and a Pearson-Chi-Square test was used to analyze the association between variables. Results indicated that, crossing wherever convenient, crossing between moving vehicles, starting crossing without looking, at incoming traffic or when other pedestrians start crossing, crossing on pedestrian red or when conflicting vehicles signal is green because other people are crossing or because of long signal waiting time and crossing road holding an umbrella for sun/rain where more often or very often stated risky road crossing behavior. Crossing wherever convenient was significantly associated with educational level (E.L) and monthly income (M.I) category. Crossing between moving vehicles was associated with exposure to road safety education (RSE). There was a significant association between starting crossing without looking for traffic and occupation status, near-crush experience and preferred media. Crossing roads holding an umbrella was significantly associated with gender and E.L. the results of the study may have a practical implication for an evidence based road safety campaigns in the context of A.A among pedestrians.