Use of google street view to assess environmental contributions to pedestrian injury

S.J. Mooney, C.J. DiMaggio, G.S. Lovasi, K.M. Neckerman, M.D.M. Bader, J.O. Teitler, D.M. Sheehan, D.W. Jack and A.G. Rundle

American Journal of Public Health, 2016, vol. 106, issue 3, 462-469

Abstract: Objectives. To demonstrate an information technology-based approach to assess characteristics of streets and intersections associated with injuries that is less costly and time-consuming than location-based studies of pedestrian injury. Methods.Weusedimagery captured byGoogle StreetViewfrom2007 to 2011 to assess 9 characteristics of 532 intersections within New York City. We controlled for estimated pedestrian count and estimated the relation between intersections' characteristics and frequency of injurious collisions. Results. The count of pedestrian injuries at intersections was associated with the presence of marked crosswalks (80% increase; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2%, 218%), pedestrian signals (156% increase; 95% CI = 69%, 259%), nearby billboards (42% increase; 95%CI =7%,90%), andbus stops (120%increase;95%CI = 51%,220%). Injury incidenceper pedestrian was lower at intersections with higher estimated pedestrian volumes. Conclusions. Consistent with in-person study observations, the information-technology approach found traffic islands, visual advertising, bus stops, and crosswalk infrastructures tobeassociatedwith elevatedcounts ofpedestrian injury in New York City. Virtual sitevisits for pedestrian injury control studies are a viable and informativemethodology.

Keywords: environment; human; incidence; Internet; mortality; New York; observer variation; pedestrian; risk factor; safety; statistics and numerical data; traffic accident; urban population; Wounds and Injuries, Accidents, Traffic; Environment; Humans; Incidence; Internet; New York City; Observer Variation; Pedestrians; Risk Factors; Safety; Urban Population; Wounds and Injuries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2015.302978_8

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302978

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