Abstract

Concern for pedestrian safety has grown recently because of ageing population not only in NorthAmerica but globally. Meanwhile the overrepresentation of older adults in fatal pedestrian crashes has been a longstanding problem. As sustainable transport policy becomes prevalent, planners and
practitioners will have the opportunity to introduce countermeasures to better meet senior pedestrian needs. In this paper we focus on the built environment because this variable category translates into more accessible countermeasures. However, a gap in the literature makes it difficult for planners and
practitioners to choose these. Past empirical studies suggest there is an observed risk increase for older adult pedestrians due to their slower walking speed, while crash history studies have yet to provide evidence for this. This gap in the literature begs the question: if there is a link between slower walking seniors and crash incidence. Two models were specified according to younger and older pedestrians involved in crashes that occurred at 191 signalized intersections in Montreal, Canada. We sought to determine if older adult pedestrian crash incidence was explained by different characteristics compared to the younger. Results not only showed that older pedestrians were more vulnerable and influenced by some different risk factors than the younger, but that they may be more responsive to some potential countermeasures.