Assessing Risk Factors for Fatal Pedestrian Crashes on National Highways in India

In India, 486,476 crashes are reported and 137,572 fatalities during 2013. Major share of crashes (28.8% of total crashes) are on National Highways. Considering high importance of NHs in overall road network with respect to its connectivity to state capitals and business centres, and cater to high share of traffic (40%), there is an urgent need to investigate factors contributing to crashes on NHs. In this study, an attempt is made to establish relationship between fatal crashes and probable contributory factors for three NHs sections; based on available crash data. The study results revealed that fatal crash per kilometer is four times higher on six-lane as compared to two-lane NH. The model results revealed that likelihood of fatal pedestrian crash is higher on four-lane and six-lane than twolane NH. Therefore, pedestrian facilities on divided highways must be incorporated in design when two-lane highways are upgraded to four-lane and six-lane highways.