Assessing the factors associated with pedestrian injury severity in hit-and-run crashes in Ghana

ABSTRACT

Hit-and-run crashes often have severe consequences for vulnerable road users. In light of governmental efforts to promote pedestrian-friendly urban environments, the significance of these crashes cannot be overstated. In this study, we assessed the factors that influence the injury severity of pedestrians involved in hit-and-run crashes in Ghana. Historical crash data (1469 observations) spanning from 2013 to 2020 was used in this study. An injury-severity model was developed using random parameters logit approach to assess what crash factors significantly affect the injury outcome of the crashes. It was observed that hit-and-run crashes that occur on dark and unlit roadways were more likely to result in fatal injuries. Also, female pedestrians were less likely to be killed in hit-and-run crashes. These findings provide the basis for developing and implementing appropriate countermeasures, such as punitive laws for drivers who leave the crash scene and protective laws for those who help their victims.

KEYWORDS:

• Hit-and-run
• pedestrian
• injury severity
• developing country
• road safety

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Building and Road Research Institute, Ghana for providing the data for this study.

Author contributions

The authors confirm contribution to the paper as follows: study conception and design: E. K.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).