AN ASSESSMENT OF PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN SABON GARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KADUNA STATE

Abstract

This study assessed pedestrian safety in Sabon Gari L.G.A. Kaduna at the micro scale: street level via direct observation. 18 street locations with high pedestrian traffic across the 3 districts in the study area were purposively selected. Data was collected via direct observation and unobtrusive observations (in the morning, afternoon and night), photographs and windshield audits as well as street space measurements within the 18 selected street corridors. An assessment of Pedestrian safety considerations at these locations was made using a fivepoint system Pedestrian safety audit tool adapted from Galston (2017). The main components assessed were Presence of buffers separating pedestrians from vehicular traffic, Vehicular speed, Intersections with curb extensions, Presence of speed bumps and, Presence of islands, Pedestrian crossing facilities, Street lighting and Carriageway width. Each element was
assigned 4 as the maximum score. Elements which were never observed at any point in the study area received a rating of zero (0), rarely observed, one (1); sometimes observed, two (2); for most of the time, three (3) and always observed four (4). The study area performed poorly in pedestrian safety with a score of 4 out of 20 marks which show that walking is unsafe for pedestrians as no....