Pedestrian Casualties in Road Accidents - Malaysia Perspective
Pedestrian Casualties in Road Accidents - Malaysia Perspective
Pedestrian Casualties in Road Accidents - Malaysia Perspective
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of road accidents involving injured pedestrians
in Malaysia. The data of pedestrian-vehicle accidents during the period of 2006-2008 were obtained from
MIROS Road Accident Analysis and Database System (M-ROADS) which utilize road accident data from police
database and used for the analysis. The results showed that injured pedestrians were mainly children and male.
The majority of pedestrian deaths occurred between 1200 and 1959 hours and were significantly higher during
weekdays. Head/face and legs/hips are the most common types of injuries suffered by pedestrians. Unsafe
behaviour is one of the main factors attributed to pedestrian casualties. Collision with either heavy goods
vehicle or bus in a singular vehicular accident event is more likely to result in a fatal outcome to pedestrian.
INTRODUCTION
Walking is considered as the most basic and simple mode of transportation [1] and generally, a person who
walks, or not in or upon a motor vehicle or other vehicle is termed as a pedestrian [2]. As compared to other
road users, pedestrians, who are also defined as Vulnerable Road Users (VRU), are not related to any vehicle
mode. They are unprotected (more exposed) during interaction with road traffic system, especially when
involved in road accidents unlike other road users inside vehicles with protection “shell” [3], as well as
motorcyclists and cyclists with compulsory/recommended crash helmets [e.g. 4, 5].
Table 1: Comparison of VRUs killed between Malaysia, 5 EU countries and Japan, 2007
Deaths by VRU Category (Proportion)A
Reported Road
Country Traffic Fatalities Riders/Pillions
(Count) Pedestrians Cyclists of Motorized 2-
or 3-wheelers
Malaysia 6,282 10.1 % 3.0 % 58.0 %
France 4,620 12.1 % 3.1 % 25.0 %
Hungary 1,232 22.7 % 11.7 % 10.1%
Italy 5,669 13.4 % 5.5 % 26.0 %
Portugal 1,110 16.1 % 3.5 % 22.1 %
Spain 4,104 15.0 % 2.0 % 19.0 %
Japan 6,639 32.3 % 12.8 % 17.6 %
Note: A Proportion per reported road traffic fatalities (Source: WHO, 2009)
Pedestrian Casualties In Road Accidents – Malaysia Perspective 281
As shown in the table, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia recorded the highest number of reported road traffic
fatalities in the region. Even though the total number of reported fatalities for Myanmar (1,638) and Singapore
(1,185) is not as significant as the mentioned countries, the magnitude of pedestrian fatalities per reported road
fatalities for these countries is the highest. For other countries such as Thailand, Brunei, Malaysia, Cambodia
and Indonesia, the proportion of pedestrian fatalities ranged from 9 to 15 percent. When comparing pedestrian
death rate per 10,000 vehicles, Cambodia recorded the highest (13.31 per 10,000 vehicles) whereas Singapore
recorded the lowest (0.13 per 10,000 vehicles). On the other hand, in term of pedestrian death rate per 100,000
populations, Singapore recorded the highest (6.81 per 100,000 population). From these figures, it is noted that
the variation in the annual fatalities count and rate maybe due to discrepancies in the size and complexity of
road transportation system in each respective country. For example, in relatively smaller countries such as
Singapore, the country has comparatively lower population and traffic volumes. Another possibility of the
variation is the issue of underreported accidents.
Table 2: Vehicles, population, road and pedestrian deaths (and death rate) by country in Southeast Asia, 2007
Reported Deaths by Pedestrian Pedestrian
Registered Population
Southeast Road Traffic Pedestrian Death/ Death/
Vehicles for 2007
Asia Country Fatalities Category 10,000 100,000
(Count) (Count)
(Count) (Proportion)1 vehicles3 population3
Laos DPR 608 - 641,081 5,859,393 - -
Malaysia 6,282 10.1 % 16,825,150 26,571,879 0.38 2.39
Myanmar 1,638 30.3 % 1,045,105 48,798,212 4.75 1.02
Philippines 1,185 - 87,960,117 5,515,576 - -
Singapore 214 27.1 % 4,436,281 851,336 0.13 6.81
Thailand 12,492 8.3 % 63,883,662 25,618,447 0.16 4.05
Vietnam 12,800 - 87,375,196 22,926,230 - -
Cambodia 1545 13.3 % 154,389 14,443,679 13.31 1.42
Brunei 54 9.2 % 304,432 390,056 0.16 1.27
Indonesia 16,548 15.0 % 63,318,522 231,626,978 0.39 1.07
Timor-Leste2 46 - 1,154,775 26,649 - -
Note:
- Data Not Available
1
Proportion of pedestrian deaths per reported road traffic fatalities
2
Non-ASEAN member countries
3
Estimated death rate based on proportion of deaths by pedestrian category
(Source: WHO, 2009)
In overall, pedestrian deaths, pedestrian death rate per 10,000 vehicles and pedestrian death rate per 100,000
populations in Malaysia can be considered among the highest in Southeast Asia region for the 2007 data. In
addition, the trend of pedestrian fatality rate in Malaysia for 9-year period (2000-2008) shows gradual decline,
as illustrated in Figure 1. It can also be observed that, the pedestrian death rate per 10,000 registered vehicles
decreased from 0.68 to 0.34 per 10,000 registered vehicles (2000-2008). The death rate per 100,000 population
decreased by 32% during this period to reach 2.1 per 100,000 population in the year 2008. The highest
decrements for both death rate per 10,000 registered vehicles and death rate per 100,000 populations were
recorded during the period from 2004 to 2005 with 17% and 11%, respectively. Nonetheless, this pedestrian
issue to some extent is rarely highlighted in Malaysia since the country is facing motorcycle problems that are
more alarming [e.g. 15]. Hence, in the effort to reduce road traffic calamities, as well as the resulted fatalities
and injuries, this study is conducted to describe the situation of pedestrian casualties in Malaysia so that the
matter is also being fairly addressed. The statistics were obtained from Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) [8, 9, 10].
Pedestrian Casualties In Road Accidents – Malaysia Perspective 282
Figure 1: Fatality rate (by 10,000 registered vehicles and 100,000 population), 2000–2008
Definitions
The following are definitions used in this study:
(i) Injury classification [8, 11, 12]
(a) Fatal – death occurred immediately or subsequently from injury within 30 days or less as a
result of the road accident,
(b) Severe injury – injury which requires treatment and detention in a hospital for a certain period
of time, and
(c) Slight injury – injury that is treated as outpatient and does not require detention in a hospital.
(ii) Age category [e.g. 6, 13]
(a) Children – pedestrian less than or equal to 15 years old,
(b) Young – pedestrian between 16 and 25 years old,
(c) Middle – pedestrian between 26 and 65 years old, and
(d) Elderly – pedestrian more than 65 years old.
(iii) Day of week
(a) Weekends – from Friday to Sunday since some of the states in Malaysia declared Friday and
Saturday as their weekend while Sunday as weekday.
(iv) Type of vehicle [8, 14]
(a) M1 and M2 passenger – M group type of vehicle comprising of cars, vans, 4-wheel drives
(4WDs) and wagons, and
(b) HGV – heavy goods vehicles (N group) comprising of articulated (or trailer), rigid and small
lorries.
Pedestrian Casualties In Road Accidents – Malaysia Perspective 283
Method of Analysis
The study aims to explore characteristics of road accidents involving pedestrian in Malaysia. The selected
dataset was analysed via descriptive statistics to yield quantitative information about the event being studied
using SPSS software version 17.0. The studied information include pedestrian characteristics such as gender,
age, injury location and pedestrian location during accident, road and environment characteristics such as road
type and geometry, and light condition at time of accident, and finally, type of striking vehicle (vehicle class).
Head/Face:
35%
Neck: 1%
Chest: 3%
Arms: 9% Upper/Lower
back: 1%
Multiple: Legs/Hips:
15% 36%
Of all types of roads, federal recorded the highest proportion of both pedestrian fatalities and casualties
(including fatal) with 39.3% and 27.2%, respectively. Expressway, on the other hand, has the least recorded the
least percentage of pedestrian fatalities with 3.6% and pedestrian casualties (including fatal) with only 2% of the
total. For traffic system, most pedestrian casualties happened on single carriageways (96.6% with 22.5% were
fatal) as compared to dual/multiple carriageways (3.4% with 38.3% were fatal). 84.2% pedestrians were injured
(fatally and non-fatally) on straight roads, followed by junctions and interchanges with 8.3%. Among all types
of junctions (cross, T/Y and staggered) and interchanges, T/Y recorded the highest proportion with 78.2% of
pedestrian casualties.
The majority (58.0%) of reported pedestrian casualties occurred in rural area with 22.8% of the proportion
accounted for fatalities. This is followed by urban and suburban areas which correspond to 22.8% (24.6% fatal)
and 19.2% (22.7% fatal) pedestrian casualties. For area type, residential (22.7%) and school (8.7%) accounted
for one-third of pedestrian casualties.
Light Condition
A considerable proportion (26.4%) of pedestrian casualties happened in a dark environment. Of the percentage,
59.8% took place in the setting with the existence of street lighting while the remaining without street lighting.
Most (65.9%) pedestrian casualties occurred during daylight with fatal being 19.1% and severely injured 26.6%.
29.4% in 2007 and 25.8% in 2008). More pedestrian casualties occurred on Wednesday (16.0%), with Sunday
having the fewest total number of pedestrian casualties (13.0%). More than half (58.1%) of total pedestrian
casualties were recorded on weekdays compared to weekends. The highest number of pedestrian casualties
happened between 8pm and 9pm on Sunday. On weekdays, most pedestrian casualties occurred during late
evening period and night while on weekends; most pedestrian casualties took place throughout the night. The
pattern of pedestrian casualties according to time of day and day of week are shown below.
80
50
40
30
20
10
0
Midnight 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 Noon 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00
Based on time of day, most pedestrian deaths, as well as KSI casualties, occurred during the night between 8pm
and 9pm. However, the highest number of slightly injured pedestrians happened during late evening period
(6pm – 7pm). Fewer pedestrian casualties took place during early morning between 4am and 5am.
250
Killed
Severely Injured
200
Slightly Injured
150
100
50
0
Midnight 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 Noon 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00
Findings
Children
This study shows that the majority (40.3%) of pedestrian casualties (including fatal) were children. From this, at
least 40% were either killed or severely injured during collisions, with the highest proportion being children of
aged 6-10. Of all pedestrian fatalities (2006-2008), 18.3% were children. When comparing to the U.K., children
(aged 0-15) account for 32% and 30% of pedestrian casualties in 2007 and 2008, respectively, and 27% of KSI
casualties for each of both years [6, 16]. On another note, in term of fatalities, children age 15 and younger
accounted for 7 to 8% of pedestrian deaths between 2006 and 2008 in the U.S. [2, 17, 18]. There is evidence that
children are only completely capable to select required information to perform the task of crossing the road from
the age of 11 [19]. Furthermore, Dragutinovic and Twisk (2006) reported that the skills which are essential for
crossing roads safely such as observation, perception of unsafe locations and information processing, are still
inadequately developed for young children [20].
The Elderly
Analysis of pedestrian fatalities on age group also shows that elderly pedestrians between 66 and 70 years old
contributed the highest number of fatalities than any other age group. The U.K. Department for Transport (DfT)
(2007 and 2008) reported that the proportion of pedestrian fatalities and pedestrian death rates are highest for
those aged 80 and above [6, 16]. In the U.S., pedestrians aged 65+ accounted for 18% of all pedestrian fatalities
and its fatality rate was higher (2.07 per 100,000 population) than any other age group in 2008. The finding may
perhaps due to higher risk of mortality and severe injury to elderly pedestrians, who physically vulnerable, in
road accidents. This is similar to the finding of Sze and Wong (2007) that showed that pedestrians aged above
65 years old obviously led to a higher KSI risk in road accidents in Hong Kong [21]. In addition, functional
limitations, such as slower reaction time and motor skill dysfunction, experienced by elderly pedestrians might
be the most significant cause of high risk [e.g. 19, 22].
Unsafe Behaviour
Careless and illegal (not using pedestrian facilities) crossings are one of the main factors contributing to injury
accidents for pedestrians, with more than two-thirds (70.0%) of casualties. Careless, reckless or in a hurry
contributed 23.4% of all pedestrian severities, second highest after failed to look properly (59.7%) in the U.K.
for 2008 [16]. Findings from a study conducted in Australia showed that being careless or making a mistake
(e.g. running across road, failed to see approaching vehicle) were common contributory factors in pedestrian
casualties [23]. Unsafe crossing behaviour can be evidently observed in some areas such as near shopping
centres and marketplaces even though there were pedestrian facilities provided at the locations, as illustrated in
the following figures.
Pedestrian Casualties In Road Accidents – Malaysia Perspective 287
Figure 7: Illegal crossing at Senai (there was pedestrian Figure 8: Dangerous crossing at Ipoh-Kuala Lumpur Road
overhead bridge with no-illegal-crossing warning near Selayang Fresh Market (location of nearest pedestrian
signboards situated at the location) overhead bridge ≈ 400 metres away)
Pedestrian-Motorcycle Collision
Motorcycle accounted for more than half (53.8%) of pedestrian casualties in the event of SVA with single
pedestrian. On average, 94 pedestrians were fatally injured each year for the 3-year period (2006-2008). A study
conducted in Thailand found that road accidents involving children (aged 1-10) collided with motorcycles had
the highest frequency [24]. In the U.K., 1,016 pedestrians suffered personal injuries after being hit by
motorcycles [2]. Of these, 28 were fatally injured while a further 240 sustained severe injuries due to the
collisions [2]. In poor riding conditions, neither motorcycles nor pedestrians are easily visible due to their size as
compared to other motor vehicles (e.g. cars, buses) and they may only be visible to each other seconds before
impact [25]. McCarthy et al. (2007), through comparative analysis between two motorcycle accident studies,
reported that failure to see pedestrian in blind spot as one of the contributing factors for motorcycle-pedestrian
accidents in the U.K. [26]. Due to the fact that motorcycles accounted for more than 50% of all traffic
distributions on Malaysia roads [15, 27], situation of motorcycle-pedestrian accident in the country is a
significant concern and needs to be drawn attention to.
Behavioural Measures
Public information campaigns, traffic education and driver training are among effective behavioural measures to
improve pedestrian safety awareness. Besides, enforcement by authorities especially police is essential to
increase traffic regulations compliancy among road users specifically at locations with pedestrian facilities.
Pedestrian Casualties In Road Accidents – Malaysia Perspective 288
CONCLUSIONS
This study serves as prevalence towards understanding pedestrian safety issues and situation in Malaysia. A
number of important findings are identified through analysis performed with the chosen dataset. More than one-
third of injured pedestrians on Malaysian roads were mainly children. Traffic accidents involving elderly
pedestrians aged 66-70 contributed the highest number of deaths than any other age group. The majority of
types of injuries sustained by pedestrians were at head/face and legs/hips. The highest pedestrian deaths and KSI
casualties had occurred at night between 8pm and 9pm. Seventy percent of pedestrian casualties were attributed
to unsafe behaviour such as careless and illegal crossing. A fatal outcome of pedestrian was more likely on a
single collision event with either HGV or bus. Pedestrian-motorcycle accident is a significant concern in the
country considering motorcycle population on Malaysian roads which attributed to more than 50% of all traffic
distributions. The findings provide useful information for interventions and safety control measures to prevent
and reduce pedestrian casualties in road accidents. Further in-depth and focused research pertaining to
pedestrian safety should be carried out to better understanding the situation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors greatly acknowledge Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and those who gave
their support and contributions, either direct or indirect, towards completion of this paper. Special thanks go to
Crash Safety Engineering associates for the invaluable assistance in providing useful information regarding the
matter discussed in this paper.
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