Crash risk for low-income and minority populations: An examination of at-risk population segments and underlying risk factors

There has been a little substantive examination of the specific nature of the crash risk experienced by specific age and gender cohorts among the lower-income populations or how the daily activities of each of these cohorts may affect crash risk. In general, lower-income and minority populations are treated as monolithic groups, with little effort to identify specific population cohorts at disproportionate risk. This study examines pedestrian and cyclist crashes occurring in lower-income areas in Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties. This study is designed to address three specific objectives: (1) estimate the relative risk of pedestrian and cyclist crashes in lower-income communities, compared to their more affluent counterparts, to understand the nature of the pedestrian and cyclist crash risk in lower-income areas; (2) identify specific at-risk population cohorts within lower-income census block groups, stratified by age, gender, and the time of day to develop a profile of the unique characteristics of crashes experienced by pedestrians and cyclists in these areas; and (3) examine the effect of the commuting patterns on vehicle-pedestrian and vehicle-cyclist collisions.