Road crossing safety for vulnerable road users: school pupils' assessment of their walking routes in the Cape Coast metropolis of Ghana

Statistics show that up to 23% of pedestrian fatalities recorded in Ghana are among children. Generally, road crossing has a high representation on the pedestrian action before impact list recording up to 73% of pedestrian... [ view full abstract ]

Statistics show that up to 23% of pedestrian fatalities recorded in Ghana are among children. Generally, road crossing has a high representation on the pedestrian action before impact list recording up to 73% of pedestrian fatalities. This exploratory study conducted among 792 self-reported captive walkers aged between 8 and 18 years accessed road crossing safety of school pupil’s routes to school. The study relied on GIS buffering techniques in selecting 25 schools within the Cape Coast metropolis.

Principal Component Analysis was used to develop individual based safety indices for pupils and the results show that age, gender and socioeconomic status of pupils were significantly associated with pupil’s perception of safety. Some pre-disposing factors to pedestrian crashes found in the study include pupils’ use of multi-modal access routes with more than two 3-way and 4-way intersections, lack of traffic wardens and marked crossing points, drivers’ failure to stop for pupils to cross on major arteries including the Trans-Ecowas highway which links major West African countries together. Some basic crossing aids were absent on pupils’ routes.

Overall, majority of school pupils who used multi-modal access routes felt unsafe from dangers posed by cars. In conclusion, the study found that routes used by pupils in the Cape Coast metropolis do not have adequate safe road crossing facilities.