Linda Rothman1, Colin Macarthur2, Teresa To3, Ron Buliung4, Andrew Howard5. 1. Child Health Evaluative Sciences, and Institute of Medical Science, linda.rothman@sickkids.ca. 2. Child Health Evaluative Sciences, and Departments of Pediatrics, and Health Policy Management and Evaluation, and. 3. Child Health Evaluative Sciences, and Institute of Medical Science, Health Policy Management and Evaluation, and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; and. 4. Department of Geography, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada. 5. Child Health Evaluative Sciences, and Health Policy Management and Evaluation, and Orthopaedic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Surgery.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Initiatives to increase active school transportation are popular. However, increased walking to school could increase collision risk. The built environment is related to both pedestrian collision risk and walking to school. We examined the influence of the built environment on walking to school and child pedestrian collisions in Toronto, Canada. METHODS: Police-reported pedestrian collision data from 2002 to 2011 for children ages 4 to 12, proportion of children walking to school, and built environment data were mapped onto school attendance boundaries. Collision rates were calculated by using 2006 census populations and modeled by using negative binomial regression. RESULTS: There were 481 collisions with a mean collision rate of 7.4/10 000 children per year. The relationship between walking proportion and collision rate was not statistically significant after adjusting for population density and roadway design variables including multifamily dwelling density, traffic light, traffic calming and 1-way street density, school crossing guard presence, and school socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: Pedestrian collisions are more strongly associated with built environment features than with proportions walking. Road design features were related to higher collision rates and warrant further examination for their safety effects for children. Future policy designed to increase children's active transportation should be developed from evidence that more clearly addresses child pedestrian safety.
OBJECTIVES: Initiatives to increase active school transportation are popular. However, increased walking to school could increase collision risk. The built environment is related to both pedestrian collision risk and walking to school. We examined the influence of the built environment on walking to school and child pedestrian collisions in Toronto, Canada. METHODS: Police-reported pedestrian collision data from 2002 to 2011 for children ages 4 to 12, proportion of children walking to school, and built environment data were mapped onto school attendance boundaries. Collision rates were calculated by using 2006 census populations and modeled by using negative binomial regression. RESULTS: There were 481 collisions with a mean collision rate of 7.4/10 000 children per year. The relationship between walking proportion and collision rate was not statistically significant after adjusting for population density and roadway design variables including multifamily dwelling density, traffic light, traffic calming and 1-way street density, school crossing guard presence, and school socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: Pedestrian collisions are more strongly associated with built environment features than with proportions walking. Road design features were related to higher collision rates and warrant further examination for their safety effects for children. Future policy designed to increase children's active transportation should be developed from evidence that more clearly addresses child pedestrian safety.
Authors: D Alex Quistberg; Eric J Howard; Beth E Ebel; Anne V Moudon; Brian E Saelens; Philip M Hurvitz; James E Curtin; Frederick P Rivara Journal: Accid Anal Prev Date: 2015-09-01
Authors: Mark S Tremblay; Casey Gray; Shawna Babcock; Joel Barnes; Christa Costas Bradstreet; Dawn Carr; Guylaine Chabot; Louise Choquette; David Chorney; Cam Collyer; Susan Herrington; Katherine Janson; Ian Janssen; Richard Larouche; William Pickett; Marlene Power; Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter; Brenda Simon; Mariana Brussoni Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2015-06-08 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Linda Rothman; Alison K Macpherson; Andrew Howard; Patricia C Parkin; Sarah A Richmond; Catherine S Birken Journal: Prev Med Rep Date: 2016-10-26
Authors: Brent E Hagel; Alison Macpherson; Andrew Howard; Pamela Fuselli; Marie-Soleil Cloutier; Meghan Winters; Sarah A Richmond; Linda Rothman; Kathy Belton; Ron Buliung; Carolyn A Emery; Guy Faulkner; Jacqueline Kennedy; Tracey Ma; Colin Macarthur; Gavin R McCormack; Greg Morrow; Alberto Nettel-Aguirre; Liz Owens; Ian Pike; Kelly Russell; Juan Torres; Donald Voaklander; Tania Embree; Tate Hubka Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2019-06-11 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Linda Rothman; Alison Macpherson; Ron Buliung; Colin Macarthur; Teresa To; Kristian Larsen; Andrew Howard Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-08-12 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Linda Rothman; Daniel Perry; Ron Buliung; Colin Macarthur; Teresa To; Alison Macpherson; Kristian Larsen; Andrew Howard Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-07-31 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Marie-Soleil Cloutier; Emilie Beaulieu; Liraz Fridman; Alison K Macpherson; Brent E Hagel; Andrew William Howard; Tony Churchill; Pamela Fuselli; Colin Macarthur; Linda Rothman Journal: Inj Prev Date: 2020-11-04 Impact factor: 2.399