Social inequalities in child pedestrian traffic injuries: Differences in neighborhood built environments near schools in Austin, TX, USA

This study addresses these gaps by examining the impacts of the built environments on child pedestrian crashes around schools in Austin, Texas, USA. We use the binary logistic regression model with Firth's penalized likelihood method to estimate the impacts of built environments on child pedestrian crashes at the street segment level. This study finds that longer block lengths, missing sidewalks, crosswalk density, and commercial land uses around schools may hinder child pedestrian safety. Moreover, we find that socioeconomically disadvantaged children may have little to no protection against the risk of pedestrian crashes, especially due to lack of sidewalks and well-designed crosswalks. Our results may help planners, policymakers, and public health professionals better understand how to enhance child pedestrian safety around schools by improving surrounding built environments based on different neighborhood characteristics.
Source: Journal of Transport and Health - Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research