I was very interested to read 'The New York City pedestrian safety study & action plan', published by the Department of Transport this month - see the New York City web-site.

Headline facts are that pedestrians are 10 times more likely to die than a motor vehicle occupant in the event of a crash, pedestrians accounted for 50% of traffic fatalities in 2005-2009, 36% of crashes resulted from driver inattention, 27% of crashes where pedestrians were killed or seriously injured occured when a motorist failed to give way, 80% of crashes which kill or seriously injure pedestrians involve male drivers, and 79% involve private cars.

New York City is relatively safe as American cities go - there are 3.49 traffic fatalities for each 100,000 of population (compared with Atlanta at 10.97 and Detroit at 10.31). But London has 2.10 and Stockholm 1.23. Since national fatality rates are 12.2, it must be pretty deadly out in the sticks!

Since 2004, the number of traffic fatalities in New York City has been lower than in 1910 - which is impressive!

Pedestrian fatality rates were 1.8/100,000 of population in 2008 - again much lower than Atlanta (11) and Los Angeles (7.6).

Vulnerable road users - pedestrians, cyclists and motor-cyclists - accounted for 71% of the city's traffic fatalities.

A telling quote from the report is that, 'Drivers can usually be expected to behave in ways appropriate for their own safety but may not always have the same commitment to the safety of people outside vehicles'.

A disproportionate number of pedestrian crashes in Manhattan were on major 2-way streets.

Wide roads also accounted for more pedestrian crashes - this reflects much other research which shows that widening roads reduces safety.

74% of crashes involving pedestrians were at intersections (it's 24% in the rest of the USA). Nearly half were at signalled intersections: 57% of these occurred when the pedestrain was crossing with the signal.

Pedestrians are more likely to be killed or seriously injured when crossing with the signal than against it, although crossing against the signal is more likely to be fatal.

Driver inattention was a factor in 36% of crashes: these were more than twice as likely to be fatal than others. Driving while using a mobile phone is more dangerous than drunken driving.

Speed is also an issue. A pedestrian struck at 40 miles/h is 4 times more likely to die than one struck at 30: one struck at 30 is 6 times more likely to die than one struck at 20.

As a result of the study, an action plan has been drawn up. High-crash corridors are to be identified and targeted, and countdown signals are to be installed at more crossings. The State legislature is to be pressed to allow more red light cameras (only 150 are allowed at the moment) and speed cameras (currently illegal in New York City).

The city's target is to halve traffic fatalities between 2007 and 2030: they are currently a bit ahead of traget, with 256 fatailites in 2009.