JANUARY 2005 - Accident Reconstruction Newsletter

Beta Testing of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool

The beta version of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool (PBCAT) was completed in November 1999. That version of the software had undergone a number of revisions based on comments from both the project development team and a limited number of outside reviewers. Subsequently, this project was intended to expand the pool of practitioners using the software and conduct a formal evaluation of the product. The participants in the study included health and safety professionals, transportation planners, traffic engineers, and bicycle and pedestrian coordinators. Of the 20 people who agreed to participate in the effort, 12 actually completed the data entry, while 14 responded to the surveys. Provided below is a brief summary of the results from the crash typing, surveys, and follow-up evaluation.

Each participant in the study received a copy of the software on CD, a user's manual, 25 crash reports (13 pedestrian and 12 bicycle collisions), and several evaluation and comment forms. The first phase of the test was for the participant to enter the data from the collision report forms and "type" the crashes using the software. The completed data sets were then analyzed and compared to the "correct" answers. A complete set of results is attached. They are presented in terms of the percentage of responses that were correct, within one level of error, and greater than one level of error. Those responses that were correct had the same crash type as previously determined by the project team. The responses that were within one level of being correct were coded correctly up until the last decision was made. For example, a bicyclist being struck by an overtaking vehicle may have been coded as an overtaking vehicle that "misjudged the distance required to pass" as opposed to an overtaking vehicle that "did not detect the bicyclist." In general, these errors are not considered to be major mistakes due to the level of subjectivity still required from interpreting the crash reports and due to the fact that most countermeasures are appropriate to that level of error. Those responses that were more than one level away from being correct are considered to be more major mistakes. These types of errors generally occurred for two or three specific crashes and are discussed below.

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The ARC-CSI 2005 Conference, June 7-10, 2005,
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Pedestrians, Pile-Up, Crush, CDR/EDR, Commercial Vehicles and more. Plus live crash testing.
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If you missed last years ARC-CSI Crash Conference, you may order the CD set at our newest web address
ARC-CSI 2004 Conference CD Set - Over 60 Crash Video Clips and 550 Digital Photos.

• Beta Testing of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool
• Literature Review on Vehicle Travel
  Speeds and Pedestrian Injuries
• Pedestrian Safety 2003
• Bicycle Safety 2003
• Pedestrian Roadway Fatalities
• Electronic Accident Forms Boost Reporting Efficiency; Data Can Be Linked With Records Systems
• Children Safety 2003
• Traffic Safety Facts 2003 - Complete Guide
• NAPARS: Chuck Pembleton Steps Down as President
• ARC-CSI Crash Conference 2005
• $200 discount on the CDR System Kit
• ARC Network New Members
• Accident Reconstruction Education and Training Events - 16 new training events added.
  
• In The News
• Membership Information

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