When crashes do happen, most will be minor. Fewer pedestrian crashes Concern has been expressed that installing roundabouts might endanger pedestrians, but these fears appear unfounded. Experience in Europe shows roundabouts reduce the risk of pedestrian crashes. Such crashes also declined at the US roundabouts. In pedestrian crashes, it's vehicle speed that matters the most.
Elderly pedestrians are at greater risk of dying than younger pedestrians.
Regardless of age, pedestrians involved in crashes are more likely to be killed as vehicle speeds increase. In crashes at any speed, older pedestrians are more likely to die than younger ones. These are the two main findings of a report on pedestrian injuries recently prepared by the Preusser Research Group for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Analyzing crashes across the country, researchers found that fewer than 2 percent of struck pedestrians died in crashes that occurred where posted speed limits were slower than 25 mph. Where speed limits were 50 mph or higher, more than 22 percent of struck pedestrians died.