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PBCAT
PEDESTRIAN & BICYCLE
CRASH ANALYSIS TOOL
VERSION 2.0

PUBLICATION NO. FHWA-HRT-06-089
JULY 2006

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FOREWORD

Every year, scores of pedestrians and bicyclists are killed or injured in collisions with motor vehicles, exacting a terrible toll on individuals, families, businesses, and communities throughout the country. To respond to this national problem, the transportation community continues to develop innovative approaches to enhance the capacity of State and local coordinators, planners, and engineers to address traffic fatalities and injuries. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool (PBCAT): Version 2.0 offers a dynamic and practical method for recording vital information about pedestrian and bicyclist crashes to produce diverse and useful reports. PBCAT also gives access to engineering, education, and enforcement countermeasures that represent promising procedures for mitigating crashes. The details PBCAT captures about crashes between motor vehicles and pedestrians or bicyclists, and the resources it presents, will further efforts of agencies nationwide to identify and select appropriate practices to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

Michael Trentacoste, Director
Office of Safety Research and Development

NOTICE

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names if they appear in the report are here only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.

QUALITY ASSURANCE STATEMENT

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.

Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No.

FHWA-HRT-06-089

2. Government Accession No.

3. Recipient’s Catalog No.

4. Title and Subtitle

Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool (PBCAT): Version 2.0 Application Manual

5. Report Date

March 2006

6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s)

David L. Harkey, Sean Tsai, Libby Thomas, and William W. Hunter

8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

University of North Carolina
Highway Safety Research Center
730 ML King Jr. Blvd., CB #3430
Chapel Hill, NC 27599

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

11. Contract or Grant No.

DTFH61-00-R-00034

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

Federal Highway Administration
Office of Safety Research and Development
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101-2296

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

User’s Manual 2001–2005

14. Sponsoring Agency’s Code

15. Supplementary Notes

Carol Tan (COTR) and Ann Do (COTM)

Produced under the FHWA contract "Development, Operation and Maintenance of the Highway Safety Information System (HSIS IV)." LENDIS Corporation was a subcontractor and provided programming support.

16. Abstract

In 2004, 4,641 pedestrians and 725 bicyclists were killed, accounting for 13 percent of all traffic fatalities in the United States. An additional 68,000 pedestrians and 41,000 bicyclists were reported to be injured as a result of collisions with motor vehicles. PBCAT is a software product intended to assist State and local pedestrian and bicycle coordinators, planners, and engineers in addressing pedestrian and bicyclist crash problems.

PBCAT accomplishes this goal through the development and analysis of a database containing details associated with crashes between motor vehicles and pedestrians or bicyclists. One of these details is the crash type, which describes the pre-crash actions of the parties involved. With the database developed, the software can then be used to produce reports and select countermeasures to address the problems identified. Features of PBCAT Version 2.0 include:

  • Form Design—users can customize the data entry form for inputting crash data; the form can be designed to match the local police crash report.
  • Group Typing—an alternative version of crash typing is available for users who do not wish to have the level of crash type detail offered in the traditional version.
  • Location Data—users have the option of recording specific location information (e.g., approach leg and travel direction) for pedestrian crashes occurring at intersections.
  • Crash Reports—users have more table options and the capability to export results to Microsoft® Excel®.
  • Countermeasures—links are provided to access the engineering, education, and enforcement countermeasures in PEDSAFE and BIKESAFE, which are Websites developed for FHWA that include a number of expert system tools for selecting the most appropriate countermeasures.

17. Key Words

Pedestrian crashes, bicycle crashes, crash typing,
crash analysis, pedestrian countermeasures,
bicycling countermeasures

18. Distribution Statement

No restrictions. This document is available to the
public through the National Technical Information
Service, Springfield, VA 22161.

19. Security Classification (of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classification (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No. of Pages

241

22. Price

From DOT F 1700.7 (8-72)Reproduction of form and completed page is authorized

SI* (Modern Metric) Conversion Factors


TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Product Overview

     Crash Typing
     Version 2.0 Features
     Applications
     Technical Support

2. Software Installation
     System Requirements
     Installation Steps

3. Getting Started: The Basics
     Layout and Navigation
     Toolbar
               Data Entry and Crash Typing Buttons
               Form Design Buttons
     Quick Start Steps
               Step 1—Create New Database
               Step 2—Select Database and Forms

4. Application Preferences
     Data Sources
               Crash Typing Options
     Database Fields
               Crash Typing Fields
               Age Fields
     User Profiles
               Passwords
               Editing Options
     Speed Groups
     Age Groups

5. Form Creation and Design
     Forms and Databases
     Existing Forms
     Form Creation
               Adding Fields
               Adding Text and Group Boxes
               Deleting Fields
               Indexing Tabs
               Saving and Renaming
     Form Deletion
     Form Copying

6. Data Entry and Crash Typing
     Data Entry
               Basic Functions
               Other Functions
     Crash Typing Options and Database Fields
               Pedestrian Location
               Standard versus Group Typing
               Database Fields
     Crash Typing Screens and Definitions
     Crash Typing Examples
               Example 1—Bicyclist Crash (Standard Typing)
               Example 2—Pedestrian Crash (Standard Typing, Location Option Enabled)
               Example 3—Bicyclist Crash (Group Typing)

7. Analysis Reports
     Crash Type Frequency
     Tables and Graphs
     Examples
               Example 1—Bicyclist Crashes—Light Conditions
               Example 2—Pedestrian Crashes—Crash Types and Pedestrian Age

8. Database Options
     Import A Database
     Export A Database

9. Countermeasures
     Pedestrian Countermeasure Matrix
     Bicyclist Countermeasure Matrix
     Countermeasure Descriptions

APPENDIX A. Installation Instructions

APPENDIX B. Pedestrian Location Scenarios

APPENDIX C. Crash Types and Crash Groups

APPENDIX D. Database Structure

APPENDIX E. Data Entry Forms

APPENDIX F. Crash Typing Definitions

APPENDIX G. Crash Typing Examples

APPENDIX H. Pedsafe and Bikesafe Groups

REFERENCES

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Image. Extract the installation files
Figure 2. Image. Use pull-down menus and toolbars for navigation
Figure 3. Image. Step 1
Figure 4. Image. Step 2
Figure 5. Image. Set default database and choose default data entry forms
Figure 6. Image. Step 3
Figure 7. Image. Set database options and user profiles
Figure 8. Image. Create, add an existing, or remove a database
Figure 9. Image. Search for and open a database to be added
Figure 10. Image. Enable or disable pedestrian location option and group typing options
Figure 11. Image. Add, delete, or edit fields in the database
Figure 12. Image. Enter field name, alias, data type, field length, entry type, and default value
Figure 13. Image. Select a field entry type
Figure 14. Image. Edit a field
Figure 15. Image. Set user profiles, passwords, and editing options
Figure 16. Image. Create a new profile
Figure 17. Image. Select a profile
Figure 18. Image. Enter a password and hint information
Figure 19. Image. Enter a password
Figure 20. Image. Set values for speed groups and choose units of measurement
Figure 21. Image. Establish as few as two groups
Figure 22. Image. Set values for pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist age groups
Figure 23. Image. Set values and numbers of groups for three modes
Figure 24. Image. Create, edit, delete, and copy forms
Figure 25. Image. Select forms for editing
Figure 26. Image. Create a form using the New Form function
Figure 27. Image. Create a form using the Edit Form function
Figure 28. Image. Insert a field on a form
Figure 29. Image. Insert text and group boxes on a form
Figure 30. Image. Resize a box
Figure 31. Image. Set the sequence of tabs for a new or existing form
Figure 32. Image. Rename and save a form
Figure 33. Image. Overwrite an existing form
Figure 34. Image. Delete a form
Figure 35. Image. Copy a form
Figure 36. Image. Enter pedestrian or bicyclist crash data
Figure 37. Image. Access the Crash Typing function
Figure 38. Image. Save a data entry record
Figure 39. Image. Open a new data entry form
Figure 40. Image. Navigate to, delete, search, and browse records in a table
Figure 41. Image. Search the database for specific records
Figure 42. Image. Browse all records in the database
Figure 43. Image. Preview the data form that can be printed
Figure 44. Image. Start the crash typing process
Figure 45. Image. Identify where the crash occurred
Figure 46. Image. Page 1 of Florida Crash Report for example 1
Figure 47. Image. Page 2 of Florida Crash Report for example 1
Figure 48. Image. Page 3 of Florida Crash Report for example 1
Figure 49. Image. Open a bicyclist crash data entry form then begin the crash typing process
Figure 50. Image. Click on Intersection to indicate where crash occurred
Figure 51. Image. Indicate where the bicyclist was initially positioned
Figure 52. Image. Indicate travel direction of the bicyclist
Figure 53. Image. Indicate unusual/specific circumstances
Figure 54. Image. Indicate initial approach paths
Figure 55. Image. Indicate maneuvers made by the parties
Figure 56. Image. Indicate type of traffic control at the intersection
Figure 57. Image. Describe the circumstances of a sign-controlled intersection crash
Figure 58. Image. Enter crash typing data into the entry form
Figure 59. Image. Page 1 of North Carolina Crash Report for example 2
Figure 60. Image. Page 2 of North Carolina Crash Report for example 2
Figure 61. Image. Page 3 of North Carolina Crash Report for example 2
Figure 62. Images. Pedestrian crash data entry forms
Figure 63. Image. Indicate where the crash occurred
Figure 64. Image. Indicate position of pedestrian when struck
Figure 65. Image. Indicate initial direction of travel of the motorist
Figure 66. Image. Indicate the motorist maneuver
Figure 67. Image. Indicate where the crash occurred at the intersection
Figure 68. Image. Select the scenario that illustrates the pedestrian’s movement when struck
Figure 69. Image. Indicate no unusual circumstances
Figure 70. Image. Indicate no unusual vehicle types or vehicle actions
Figure 71. Image. Indicate no unusual pedestrian action
Figure 72. Image. Describe the typical pedestrian action in the crash
Figure 73. Image. Describe the circumstances of the crash
Figure 74. Image. Describe the circumstances of the crash in more detail
Figure 75. Image. Enter crash typing data into data entry form
Figure 76. Image. Enable group typing for bicyclist crashes
Figure 77. Image. Open a bicyclist crash data entry form then begin the crash typing process
Figure 78. Image. Indicate initial approach paths for bicyclist and motorist
Figure 79. Image. Describe the circumstances of the crash in this case
Figure 80. Image. Enter crash typing data into form
Figure 81. Image. Select analysis options
Figure 82. Image. Produce a list of crash types or crash groups in order of frequency
Figure 83. Image. Produce single-variable and multivariate tables
Figure 84. Image. Produce a single-variable table
Figure 85. Image. Produce a graph of a single-variable table
Figure 86. Image. Export results to Excel
Figure 87. Image. Produce a multivariate table
Figure 88. Image. Present results as percentages
Figure 89. Image. Import and export data
Figure 90. Image. Import a PBCAT Version 1.0 database
Figure 91. Image. Select the database to be imported
Figure 92. Image. Select database and fields to be exported and choose format
Figure 93. Image. Access the PEDSAFE and BIKESAFE Web sites
Figure 94. Image. Access the PEDSAFE and BIKESAFE Web sites
Figure 95. Image. View countermeasures for 12 pedestrian crash groups
Figure 96. Image. View countermeasures for 13 bicyclist crash groups
Figure 97. Image. View countermeasure descriptions
Figure 98. Step 1
Figure 99. Step 1 completed
Figure 100. Step 2
Figure 101. Step 2—setup file
Figure 102. Step 3
Figure 103. Step 4
Figure 104. Step 5
Figure 105. Step 6
Figure 106. Step 7
Figure 107. Step 8
Figure 108. Step 9
Figure 109. Step 9—sample installation screen
Figure 110. Step 10
Figure 111. Step 11
Figure 112. Step 11—setup file
Figure 113. Step 12
Figure 114. Step 13
Figure 115. Step 14
Figure 116. Step 15
Figure 117. Step 16
Figure 118. Motorist traveling straight through
Figure 119. Motorist turning right
Figure 120. Motorist turning left
Figure 121. Ped_All_Data_Milepost Form
Figure 122. Ped_All_Data_Refpost Form
Figure 123. Ped_All_Data_RouteName Form
Figure 124. Ped_All_Data_LinkNode Form
Figure 125. Ped_Crash_Type Form
Figure 126. Bike_All_Data_Milepost Form
Figure 127. Bike_All_Data_Refpost Form
Figure 128. Bike_All_Data_RouteName Form
Figure 129. Bike_All_Data_LinkNode Form
Figure 130. Bike_Crash_Type Form
Figure 131. Codes for North Carolina Commission Report Forms
Figure 132. North Carolina Crash Report—Number 1
Figure 133. North Carolina Crash Report—Number 2
Figure 134. North Carolina Crash Report—Number 3
Figure 135. North Carolina Crash Report—Number 4
Figure 136. North Carolina Crash Report—Number 5
Figure 137. North Carolina Crash Report—Number 6
Figure 138. North Carolina Crash Report—Number 7
Figure 139. North Carolina Crash Report—Number 8
Figure 140. North Carolina Crash Report—Number 9
Figure 141. North Carolina Crash Report—Number 10
Figure 142. Florida Crash Report—Report 1
Figure 143. Florida Crash Report—Report 2
Figure 144. Florida Crash Report—Report 3
Figure 145. Florida Crash Report—Report 4
Figure 146. Florida Crash Report—Report 5
Figure 147. Florida Crash Report—Report 6
Figure 148. Florida Crash Report—Report 7
Figure 149. Florida Crash Report—Report 8
Figure 150. Florida Crash Report—Report 9
Figure 151. Florida Crash Report—Report 10

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Values for Crash Typing Fields for Example 1
Table 2. Values for Crash Typing Fields for Example 2
Table 3. Values for Crash Typing Fields for Example 3
Table 4: Pedestrian Crash Types and Crash Groups
Table 5. Bicyclist Crash Types and Crash Groups
Table 6. Pedestrian Table Structure for PBCAT.MDB Database
Table 7. Bicyclist Table Structure for PBCAT.MDB Database
Table 8. Pedestrian Crash Location Definitions
Table 9. Bicyclist Crash Location Definitions
Table 10. Pedestrian Crash Type Definitions
Table 11. Pedestrian Crash Group Definitions
Table 12. Bicyclist Crash Type Definitions
Table 13. Bicyclist Crash Group Definitions
Table 14. Correct Responses to the Crash Typing Logic for the 10 Sample Pedestrian Crashes
Table 15. Correct Responses to the Crash Typing Logic for the 10 Sample Bicycle Crashes
Table 16. PEDSAFE—PBCAT Mapping
Table 17. BIKESAFE—PBCAT Mapping

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